HARARE – Police say they are now embarking on a drive to ensure public service operators were following what is prescribed in their route permits and timetables.
In a statement Wednesday, police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said the move was part of the force’s attempts to curb errant behavior among crews that are often caught up in dangerous races while competing for passengers along highway routes.
“The Zimbabwe Republic Police has noted with concern the conduct of some public service vehicle drivers who are not complying with timetables on route permits resulting in the drivers being dragged into dangerous and reckless road races for passengers.
“The conduct has resulted in road traffic accidents in some instances,” Nyathi said.
Police urged owners of public service vehicles to ensure they complied with the dictates of their permits.
“In a bid to ensure compliance with road traffic rules and regulations by public service vehicles, the Zimbabwe Republic Police will with immediate effect heighten enforcement on compliance with route permits and timetables.
“Owners of public service vehicles are therefore advised to adhere to the dictates of their route permits and timetables forthwith,” Nyathi said.
The move comes after authorities were recently forced to suspend operating licences belonging to two bus operators whose crews were caught in a viral video racing each other in what later saw one of the buses getting involved in a road traffic accident that killed its conductor and left several passengers injured.
Zimbabwe is keen to tame an alarming road carnage that saw at least 148 people killed in 2,723 recorded road traffic accidents which occurred throughout the country between December 15, 2022 and January 15 this year.
According to police statistics, the number of fatalities was higher than the 138 deaths recorded during the same period between 2021 and 2022.
Human error has been blamed in many of the accidents.
