Online Reporter
Herald Reporters
Police officers have been heavily deployed on all major roads, residential areas, central business districts and places where people converge to make merry to ensure peace and order, Police Commissioner-General Godwin Matanga has said.
He said there will be heightened roadblocks, traffic blitzes, stop and searches, motorised and cycle patrols to curb crime and road traffic accidents.
“The Zimbabwe Republic Police takes note that the public is now geared for the 2024-2025 festive season by engaging in various socio-economic activities,” Comm-Gen Matanga said.
“The volume of traffic on the roads will certainly increase. Road traffic accidents and violations of road rules and regulations will obviously take centre stage.
“In this regard, the Zimbabwe Republic Police has made adequate deployments to ensure that peace prevails throughout the period.”
He urged all stakeholders, who include transporters, to prioritise the safety and security of the public.
“As road safety campaigns are being conducted, the Zimbabwe Republic Police shall impound all defective and unroadworthy vehicles.
“In the same measure, the commuting public are discouraged from boarding non-public service vehicles for their own safety and other travellers. May I caution drivers to avoid overloading of vehicles and speeding on the roads,” Comm-Gen Matanga said.
Road safety campaigns will include components of education to prevent accidents, promote compliance with road rules and regulations and strict enforcement of the country’s laws to ensure no pirate taxis or mushika-shika vehicles are allowed to pass through police check points.
However, as of yesterday, kombis were still plying major highways, in defiance of regulations that prohibit them from travelling for 60km outside the CBD.
A number of road accidents have already been recorded in the last week, with over 10 people dying and many others injured in three separate road accidents.
Yesterday morning, two people died while two others were injured when three buses — Rimbi, Blue Circle and Tombs — were involved in a freak accident just before Bubi along the Harare-Masvingo-Beitbridge highway.
A Rimbi Bus reportedly rammed onto the trailer of a stationary Tombs bus after its driver had lost control and hit a stationary Mbokodo bus, which then overturned, leaving two passengers seriously injured.
The pile up allegedly started after a Tombs bus developed a mechanical fault and pulled off the road after hitting a donkey around 4am.
The Mbokodo bus then stopped to rescue stranded passengers who were in the Tombs bus, and then came a Rimbi bus, which hit the Tombs bus trailer, forcing it to overturn.
Masvingo provincial police spokesperson Inspector Kudakwashe Dhewa said bodies of the deceased were taken to Beitbridge District Hospital mortuary while the injured were taken to Beitbridge District Hospital.
It is not clear where all the three buses were going.
Meanwhile, Comm-Gen Matanga said as the rainy season has started, the motoring public should exercise caution as some roads may be slippery.
He also challenged motorists and individuals not attempt to cross flooded rivers and bridges to curb drowning incidents.
“May I also caution public service vehicle operators, both local and cross border, to minimise night travelling as most of the fatal road traffic accidents are being recorded at night due to vision and observation challenges,” said Comm-Gen Matanga.
He also encouraged individuals and institutions involved in the importation and exportation businesses to lead by example and officially declare all goods at the country’s ports of entry and exit.
“The law will take its course without fear or favour on transporters who are involved in smuggling activities and those using undesignated points along our border lines to commit crime,” Comm-Gen Matanga said.
Police have taken note of reports of liquor outlets in some central business districts and residential areas, which are not observing the provisions of the Liquor Act, by operating outside their stipulated opening and closing times, said the police chief.
Some of the beer outlets are also allowing minors to access alcohol.
“May I buttress that arrests will be effected and the law will certainly take its course. In the same vein, may I take this opportunity to strongly warn parents and guardians who allow minors under the guise of merry making to partake in beer drinking orgies.
“As the public embarks on various activities during this festive period, families, business persons and institutions should avoid carrying or keeping large sums of money at home or offices to curb robbery and other related violent criminal acts,” Comm-Gen Matanga said.
He said police will also take action on those engaging in drug and substance abuse, adding that as the public celebrates the cross-over into the New Year, individuals, institutions and businesspersons must adhere to the provisions of the law on the use of fireworks, fire crackers and other gadgets that may disturb the safety and security of the people.
“As required under the country’s laws, the use of fireworks should be notified to the local authorities and police well on time,” Comm-Gen Matanga said.
