POLICE say they have so far arrested 26 443 people during the ongoing operation “Tame the Traffic Jungle”.
National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi yesterday said 708 arrests had been made on vehicles without route permits, while 10 204 illegal pirate taxis or mushikashika have been impounded.
“Two hundred and ninety-six motorists have been arrested for reckless driving, while 1 761 people have been arrested for touting. Meanwhile, 695 vehicles have been impounded for moving on the roads with no registration plates,” he said.
The police also expressed concern over the rising number of accidents involving pedestrians.
Nyathi said police were investigating a fatal accident which occurred on Saturday along High-Glen Road near Meru Service Station in Harare where a woman (48) was killed and a male juvenile (10) was injured after being hit by a Toyota Hilux vehicle.
He said the victims were hit while walking on the edge of the road.
“In another fatal road traffic accident which occurred on September 17, 2023 at around 2am along Masotsha Ndlovu Road near Valley Crest Academy in Waterfalls, Harare, a man (35) died on the spot after being hit by a Honda Fit vehicle. Meanwhile, on September 17, 2023, a man (24) sustained multiple injuries all over the body after being hit by a Toyota Land Cruiser vehicle along ED Mnangagwa Road (formerly Enterprise Road) near Churchill roundabout, Harare,” Nyathi said.
The police spokesperson also indicated that police in Bulawayo were appealing for information which may assist in investigations into a fatal road traffic accident which occurred along Nketa Drive on Monday, whereby a cyclist died on the spot after being hit by an unidentified motorist driving a Honda Fit vehicle with registration number ADR 7124.
The motorist reportedly dumped the vehicle and fled from the scene.
Also, police in Esigodini are investigating a fatal hit-and-run road accident which occurred on Tuesday at around 4am at the 57km peg along the Bulawayo-Beitbridge Highway, whereby a man died on the spot after being hit by an unidentified motor vehicle.
In an unrelated incident, police in Chipinge on Sunday arrested Peter Tendi (38), Innocent Manyezu (31), Michael Bishou (23), Harunaishe Shuro (43) and Johnson Hlanganayi Sithole (61) in connection with poaching in Humani Ranch.
The arrest led to the recovery of 15 kilogrammes of impala meat and a live pangolin.
In Kadoma, police are appealing for information which may lead to the arrest of Alfigio Zhou of Musambanyama village in Hozhele, Sanyati, who is being sought in connection with a murder which occurred in Chiridzangoma.
The suspect allegedly killed his wife using an unknown object after visiting her at her parents’ homestead for reconciliation.