Authorities tighten traffic enforcement ahead of summit

Debra Matabvu

MOTORISTS caught flouting road regulations, such as running red lights or driving against the flow of traffic, will face the possibility of jail time under new road rules enforcement measures introduced ahead of the upcoming 44th SADC Heads of State and Government Summit, it has been learnt.

The measures are set to make the city navigable and trafficable. Traffic offenders are ordinarily slapped with fines or court-imposed penalties. Nearly half of Harare’s fleet of 9 000 commuter omnibuses that are unregistered are at risk of being impounded over the next few weeks. Operators are being encouraged to register with associations to ensure self-regulation.

In addition, commuters who use undesignated pick-up and drop-off points face either a custodial sentence or fine.

The Sunday Mail has also gathered that the Government and law-enforcement agencies have requested the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) to authorise these stricter penalties for traffic offences during the summit.

Ahead of the regional indaba, the police and the Harare City Council have since launched a joint operation targeting unregistered public transport operators and passengers using undesignated pick-up and drop-off points.

The authorities also plan to place physical barricades or deploy law-enforcement agents on undesignated pick-up or drop-off sites in Harare’s Central Business District to further address traffic congestion and ensure designated areas are used for passenger boarding and disembarking.

Chief director of spatial planning and development in the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works Mr Shingirayi Mushamba said: “We want the registered kombis to pick up and drop off passengers at designated termini in the city,” he said.

“Between 2019 and 2021, Greater Harare had 9 000 kombis, with only 4 000 of them being registered. The City of Harare is currently conducting a traffic census to understand the number of operators on the roads so that we get rid of the unregistered ones.

“This will ensure that the kombis left on the roads are manageable and can be accommodated at the termini.

“We are also encouraging kombi operators to register with associations so that they can self-regulate.” He said the Government will deploy additional law-enforcement agents to help manage traffic flow during the summit.

“For all these problems, we have the rules in place, but our issue has always been lack of enforcement due to manpower challenges . . .

“Some of these measures will continue being implemented even after the summit, as part of the urban renewal programme.”

He added: “Offenders are now being taken to court and we have requested that they be handed custodial sentences.

“Normally, when someone is taken to court, the Judiciary has a choice of either making them pay a fine or give a custodial sentence.

“So, the police and the Ministry of Local Government have requested the Judiciary to give custodial sentences for road rules violations during and after the summit to deter bad driving. Private vehicle operators who disregard traffic laws will also be charged the same as kombi drivers.We are also working on barricading illegal or undesignated bus stops across the city.

In a separate interview, police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the exercise and said they were working closely with the JSC.  “Police are arresting motorists who are driving against oncoming traffic, those creating third lanes on the roads and those who fail to stop at red traffic lights,” he said.

“The Judicial Service Commission has assured us that the right sentences will be given to such individuals.”