The Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) on Friday wrote a letter to Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) Commissioner-General Godwin Matanga protesting over the ongoing police operation targetting “plateless, unregistered and unlicensed” vehicles, saying it unnecessarily restricts citizens’ free movement.
In the letter, human rights lawyer Paidamoyo Saurombe of ZLHR told Matanga that the failure by some motorists to display number plates on their vehicles was not their fault as the Central Vehicle Registry (CVR) was failing to allocate adequate number plates for those who needed them.
Saurombe said it was unreasonable for ZRP to curtail the movement of motorists who have paid for registration plates and were allocated temporary plates which they display together with insurance cover on their vehicles.
He also criticised ZRP for labelling everyone without number plates as being criminal elements committing acts such as armed robbery, kidnapping, unlawful entry as well as hit and run road traffic accidents.
Saurombe asked ZRP to allow access to motorists who have paid and can show proof of payment and insurance as required by the law.
The human rights lawyer said if ZRP continues to restrict the movement of motorists due to the CVR’s failure to timeously issue out number plates, he will approach the courts for recourse against ZRP and other relevant ministries to protect the rights of the public.