Staff Reporter

The Commissioner General of the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) Godwin Matanga has directed police officers manning road blocks to stop using hand-held spikes following allegations from the public and parliamentarians that police officers were now abusing them.

Speaking through a press statement today, ZRP National Spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said, “The Commissioner General of Police has noted with concern allegations that some police officers are using hand held spikes whilst trying to stop some errant motorists from evading Police check points and general enforcements of road rules and regulations in the country.

“These allegations have resulted in varied views from the public including parliamentarians. In this regard, the Commissioner General of Police has with immediate effect banned the use of hand held spikes by any Police officers whilst performing traffic enforcement duties throughout the country.”

Nyathi added that police officers who will defy the directive would be arrested and face both criminal and stern disciplinary action.

Nyathi said that ZRP would only stick to the use of standard and approved spikes as the norm where these are strategically used at conventional road blocks and checkpoints.

Nyathi reiterated that the spikes were laid down on the ground with certified specification to assist police officers to arrest those who try to evade roadblocks by driving through the roadblocks or sideways and in the process pose as a danger to other motorists, the general public and police officers.

He, however, urged all public service vehicles operators to seriously introspect on the manner in which they conduct their operations and genuinely assist in the maintenance of law and order on the roads.

“The recent pronouncement by His Excellency President ED Mnangagwa on the operations of public service vehicles should be a guide on the need to ensure that PSV drivers and crew are strictly adhering to the laws of the country,” added Nyathi.

This move by the Commissioner General of police was welcomed by the public who bemoaned ZRP officers for causing injuries and deaths to motorists and passengers through the use of hand-held spikes on moving vehicles.

In a recent incident, the ZRP officers were alleged to have caused the death of four people and injuring eight passengers after throwing spikes at a moving minibus.