Roadblocks slashed to 40 countrywide
HOME Affairs minister Ignatius Chombo yesterday told Parliament that government had
ordered police to reduce the number of roadblocks to 40 countrywide, which translates to
four per province, following a public outcry from motorists and tourists, who described
the numerous vehicle checkpoints as a great inconvenience.
Chombo made the remarks after he and his deputy, Obedingwa Mguni, appeared before the
Dexter Nduna-led Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs to speak on roadblocks,
where they also disclosed that they would next month commission the integrated electronic
traffic system to electronically identify defective vehicles and traffic offenders.
“Government has told the Commissioner-General of Police, Augustine Chihuri, to remove all
unnecessary roadblocks and mount necessary ones,” Chombo said.
“Roadblocks will be reduced to only 40 nationally before computerisation, and it means
there will be four roadblocks per province unless there is a security threat or serious
crime.”
On the integrated electronic traffic system, Chombo said 500 police gadgets had been
acquired through a public-private partnership with Univern.
He said each police station would have its own gadget.
The electronic system will be integrated to road authorities such as the Zimbabwe National
Roads Administration, the Central Vehicle Registry, police vehicle theft squad, Vehicle
Inspection Department and Road Motor Transportation.
Chombo said the new electronic system would be multi-faceted to weed out rogue elements
such as drivers without licences, traffic offenders and unroadworthy and unlicenced
vehicles.
He said it would be so advanced that it would even weed out all fake licences that have
been issued without the driver having gone through proper testing.
Chombo said the new electronic system would record sale and change of ownership of
vehicles, and all the paperwork would be done in one day, as well as bringing to book
rogue commuter omnibus drivers bent on disturbing the smooth flow of traffic and using
undesignated routes.
The Home Affairs minister said more than 300 police officers had been nabbed and weeded
out of the police force for different acts of corruption including theft of property
belonging to the deceased at accident scenes.
He hailed the Zimbabwe Republic for carrying out its duties diligently to safeguard public
security despite the limited resources.
Chombo denied claims roadblocks had become the force’s cash cow.
Mguni also told the committee that traffic police officers had been ordered to stop
throwing spikes at moving vehicles pending the outcome of a court challenge filed by a
local motorist.
He, however, said in countries like Belgium and South Africa police were allowed to use
minimum force, including spikes, on errant drivers.
by VENERANDA LANGA
