Staff Reporter

The Government has listened to the public’s outcry on traffic congestion and has embarked on a blitz to curb traffic congestion and reckless driving in Harare.

In a press statement yesterday, Secretary of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution for Harare Metropolitan Province, Tafadzwa Muguti, said that Government had tasked ZRP and the City of Harare to engage in a joint operation following numerous complaints from residents over traffic jams and reckless drivers.

“The Zimbabwe Republic Police and the City of Harare shall from today, launch joint operations to curb traffic jams at all major intersections during peak hours, whilst intersections with faulty traffic signals shall have full time deployments.

“We shall continue to engage all stakeholders to ensure that we promote a trafficable and safe environment for our citizens. This will include redesigning our entire traffic system in the City of Harare in order to support the ever growing vehicle population,” said Muguti.

Additionally, Muguti said that the joint taskforce would target the pirate taxis, unlicensed drivers and commuter omnibuses that were flouting traffic regulations.

“All unlicensed and un-roadworthy vehicles to be impounded and compliance protocols to be enforced at operators cost. This includes those operating with yellow plates and mushikashika. All drivers guilty of reckless and dangerous driving are to be arrested on the spot and taken to court within the statutory 48 hours. This includes those driving on oncoming traffic, driving on pavements and those who deliberately create additional lanes by encroaching cycle tracks and pedestrian walkways,” said Muguti.

Meanwhile, the crackdown is a routine exercise aimed at restoring sanity in the streets of Harare and decongesting the City centre.