The Zimbabwe Republic Police and the City of Harare on Wednesday, 12 April launched joint operations to curb traffic congestion at all major intersections during peak hours.
This will involve the full-time deployment of police officers at intersections with faulty traffic signals as a clampdown on Mushikashika (pirate taxis) and restoration of order at bus terminuses in the CBD.
A statement issued by the Office of the President and Cabinet on 12 April 2023 titled “PUBLIC OUTCRY OVER TRAFFIC CONGESTION AND RECKLESS DRIVING”, reads:
The Secretary of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution for Harare Metropolitan Province, Mr. Tafadzwa Muguti today held a meeting with all Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies involved in roads administration and traffic law enforcement.
The meeting follows numerous complaints from residents over frustrating traffic jams and reckless drivers who tend to drive on pavements and oncoming traffic.
There is a standing cabinet directive on the Decongestion of the City of Harare. Please be advised that guided by the standing guidelines of the Inter-Ministerial committee the Secretary of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution has herein directed the following be implemented immediately in Harare Metropolitan Province in order to address the ongoing challenges on our roads;
1. All commuter omnibus operators to get a valid rank permit that will allow them to operate from their designated bus ranks and within operational times. The City of Harare will publish the designated official bus termini in the City. All passengers ought to respect and board their buses from these designated points;
2. A digital database of all commuter omnibus operators is to be implemented as part of the Local Authority Digital System (LADS). This will include digital payments collections of fines and fees whilst the Zimbabwe Republic Police shall utilise the system to verify the roadworthiness of vehicles, outstanding warrants on drivers, outstanding tickets and any other listed offences of drivers. Phase two shall include all other motorists;
3. All unlicensed and unroadworthy vehicles to be impounded and compliance protocols to be enforced at operator’s cost. This includes those operating with yellow plates and mushikashika;
4. All drivers guilty of reckless and dangerous driving are to be arrested on the spot and taken to court within the statutory 48 Hrs. This includes those driving on oncoming traffic, driving on pavements and those who deliberately create additional lanes by encroaching cycle tracks and pedestrian walkways;
5. All vehicles which have fitted extra lighting that is not permitted by the law shall have their vehicles impounded. These include those who have installed blue, red, green or yellow security and emergency reserved lights illegally on their vehicles.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police and the City of Harare shall from today launch joint operations to curb traffic jams at all major intersections during peak hours, whilst intersections with faulty traffic signals shall have full-time deployments.
We shall continue to engage all stakeholders to ensure that we promote a trafficable and safe environment for our citizens.
This will include redesigning our entire traffic system in the City of Harare in order to support the ever-growing vehicle population.
Harare Metropolitan Province has a Zero Tolerance Policy on Lawlessness and Corruption. We urge all drivers to please respect the traffic laws of Zimbabwe and other motorists so as to avoid arrest and further inconveniences.
Please stand guided accordingly.
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