At least 47 drivers have been arrested for ferrying
passengers in violation of Covid-19 lockdown regulations, with grain millers
warning drivers that they face a mandatory 21-day quarantine.
The Police National Traffic Unit has been deployed to
account for such drivers. Some of the culprits were fined, while others are
expected to appear in court soon.
In a statement, national police spokesperson Assistant
Commissioner Paul Nyathi warned drivers against violating the law. “Since March
30 to date, a total of 47 truck drivers have been arrested,” he said.
“We are, however, warning haulage truck and private vehicle
drivers who are ferrying people between cities, within cities, and even some
border jumpers that it is a criminal offence.
“Besides being a criminal offence, this act poses a risk to
the Government’s efforts to fight the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Police checkpoints, roadblocks and patrols have been
activated to account for such drivers. Haulage trucks should stick to their
mandate of transporting cargo from one point to the other. Transport companies
are implored to take action against errant drivers.”
Asst Comm Nyathi said the traffic officers were patrolling
on the roads checking driver’s licences as some were driving without proper
documents.
Police have also impounded unregistered vehicles that were
on the roads, amid reports that some drivers were removing registration number
plates to engage in criminal activities or ferry passengers.
Removing the number plates is a way of evading police so
that the drivers cannot be tracked.
Police have arrested 62 801 people countrywide since March
30 for violating lockdown measures, with the bulk of them paying deposit fines.
Offences ranged from failure to wear masks, liquor-related
offences and for violating the Road Traffic Act, unnecessary movements, illegal
gatherings, opening businesses without proper documentation and violating the
Miscellaneous Offences Act.
In the case of drivers ferrying maize from South Africa to
Zimbabwe who travel with their girlfriends, the Grain Millers Association of
Zimbabwe (GMAZ) said they risked being quarantined and prosecuted.
GMAZ media and public relations manager Mr Garikai Chaunza
said in a statement that they had been alerted of the unacceptable behaviour.
“The Government of Zimbabwe has communicated its concerns
to us with regards the conduct of most of your truck drivers who tend to travel
in pairs with the opposite gender outside the scope of their duties and also
carry passengers for monetary benefit,” he said.
“While the country critically requires maize imports to
address national food security, the aforesaid conduct cannot be tolerated and
condoned as it militates against the national effort in combating the spread of
the Covid-19 pandemic.”
Mr Chaunza said while the association noted with
appreciation the drivers’ continued support in the carriage of white maize from
South Africa into GMAZ’s private silos in Bulawayo and Harare, they must adhere
to the country’s regulations. Herald
0 comments:
Post a Comment