POLICE yesterday said they had issued over 96 000 tickets and impounded about 2 000 defective vehicles over the last 12 days for various traffic offences as they sought to tame the traffic jungle this festive season.
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In a statement, national police spokesperson Chief Supreintendent Paul Nyathi said on Saturday alone they ticketed 6 978 motorists for various offences, while the holiday death toll rose to 81.
Nyathi said between December 15 and December 27, a total of 96 634 tickets were issued for various traffic offences and 2 289 vehicles impounded after they were deemed unfit to use public roads.
He added that the number of road accidents had risen to 1 012, indicating a 23% rise from last year’s figures.
Over the same period, 81 people died while 589 were injured.
“As we prepare to celebrate the New Year (holidays), motorists are urged to continue exercising caution on the road,” Nyathi said.
Meanwhile, police said they had arrested a 35-year-old man identified as Sambulelo Ndlovu for unlawful possession of a firearm which he is believed to have acquired with the intention to commit robberies in Harare.
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“Circumstances are that the accused hired a taxi from Machipisa to Southley Park, Harare on December 24 2014. The driver became suspicious and drove straight to ZRP Machipisa where the accused was searched by detectives,” Nyathi said.
Police said they recovered a 6,35 mm Rhoner Sport Waffen pistol with one round, two by two-metre-long nylon ropes, a hunter’s knife, two pairs of latex gloves and a roll of adhesive tape.
Nyathi added: “Upon being interviewed, the accused implicated his three accomplices who had invited him from Bulawayo to Harare intending to commit robberies. Police are conducting investigations with a view of arresting the accused’s accomplices.”
