Staff Reporter|The infamous Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) are back on the road after being kicked out at the change of hands between former President Robert Mugabe’s regime to the so called new dispensation under President Emmerson Mnangagwa through a soft coup in November last year.
The removal of the heavy handed police was met by wild celebrations with people believing that indeed the Mnangagwa era was coming up with fresh governance after police on the road made life extremely difficult for Zimbabweans through wanton ticketing and bribes.
News that police have relaunched a countrywide blitz on the roads under the pretext that it’s an operation targeting unregistered vehicles and motorists who are flouting traffic regulations have brought gloom to motorists and ordinary citizens who are quite aware of what the return of the police means.
Police claim that the mass return of roadblocks is to fish out unregistered vehicles in the wake of a spate of armed robberies countrywide as criminals are using such vehicles to evade arrest.
Although police could not avail statistics of vehicles they had impounded so far, some roadblocks have been mounted in and around the city centres targeting such vehicles.
Police indicated that they will only release the impounded vehicles once the owners have registered them. Some of the vehicles will also undergo vetting to ascertain whether they had also been used in the commission of crime or not.
State media reports that on Monday a large number of cars were being impounded at the City centre roadblocks, while detectives were also moving around the city looking for unlicensed vehicles.
The development comes after Police Commissioner-General Godwin Matanga recently said the force will launch a massive crackdown targeting unlicensed drivers and unregistered vehicles in a nationwide blitz that will signal the return of roadblocks.
Comm-Gen Matanga made the announcement at this year’s World First Aid Day commemorations held at Morris Depot, Harare.
He said the days for those driving without licences and those driving unregistered vehicles were now over.
“By the powers vested in me by the President (Emmerson Mnangagwa), I would like to warn members of the public that starting on Monday, police will launch a massive operation to get rid of unlicensed drivers and unregistered vehicles,” Matanga said.
“Those caught on the wrong side of the law will have their cars impounded, while the law will take its course on unlicensed drivers.”
In October last year, Government warned that it would impound vehicles that had no number plates, while offenders would either be imprisoned or fined.