Harare commuters can breathe a little easier as the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) intensifies its efforts to rid the city’s roads of unroadworthy vehicles. A recent three-day operation in Harare East and Chitungwiza resulted in the impounding of a staggering 186 vehicles, including kombis, conventional buses, and private cars, many of which posed a significant risk to public safety.
The operation, dubbed “No To Unroadworthy Vehicles,” ran from Wednesday to Friday last week and focused on identifying and removing vehicles that failed to meet basic safety standards. Of the 186 vehicles impounded, 178 were kombis and eight were conventional buses. The remaining vehicles were private cars, many of which were being used as illegal taxis, commonly known as mushikashika. However, sources said the operation will be extended until 27 October 2025.
Acting Officer Commanding Harare province, Assistant Commissioner Sithulisiwe Mthimkhulu, along with senior officers, including police national spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi, oversaw the assessment of the impounded vehicles at Milton Park Police Station in Harare.
Commissioner Nyathi expressed serious concern over the condition of many of the vehicles. “It is disturbing to note that some unroadworthy vehicles belong to transport associations,” he said. “These vehicles pose a significant danger to commuters, with issues such as covered windows and shattered windshields.”
He emphasised the police’s commitment to ensuring that all vehicles on the road meet safety standards to protect the lives of commuters. “It is the duty of the police to ensure that all vehicles on the road meet safety standards to protect the lives of commuters,” Comm Nyathi asserted.
Many of the impounded vehicles did not possess valid Certificates of Fitness, highlighting the extent to which unroadworthy vehicles are operating on Harare’s roads. The ZRP statement also noted that vehicles were seized for offences such as non-functional lights and windows made of cardboard boxes or plastic.
The impounding of these vehicles underscores the significant risk posed to commuters by unroadworthy vehicles, which are more likely to be involved in accidents due to their defects or other factors that led to them being deemed unsafe.
The seized vehicles will now undergo thorough inspections by the Vehicle Theft Squad, the Vehicle Inspection Department (VID), and the Zimbabwe National Road Authority (ZINARA).
“Vehicles will only be released to their registered owners upon payment of fines,” Comm Nyathi stated. “Additionally, any small vehicles used for unauthorised passenger transport, will also be impounded.”
The operation, which began on 23 September, is set to continue until 27 October 2025, as the police ramp up their efforts to ensure passenger safety. “The Zimbabwe Republic Police has intensified its operation against unroadworthy vehicles,” the ZRP statement read. “Passenger safety is a collective responsibility shared by all motorists.”
While the police operation has been widely welcomed, some kombi drivers have raised concerns about fairness. Shadreck Sinyoro, a kombi driver, alleged that some kombis belonging to police officers were not being targeted, despite failing to meet safety requirements. “We urge authorities to ensure fairness in their operations,” Sinyoro said.
However, Shadreck Maguramhinga, a representative of a public transport association in the capital, urged compliance with safety regulations. “We encourage our members to adhere to the law for the safety of commuters,” Maguramhinga said. “While operating documents can be expensive, they should not justify unsafe practices that endanger lives.”
The recent operation comes amid growing concerns about the behaviour of some kombi drivers in Harare. In a separate incident, a 23-year-old kombi driver was sentenced to 30 months in prison after endangering other road users, ignoring police instructions, and assaulting an officer.
According to reports, Malvern Last Chiutsi ignored a red light at the intersection of Leopold Takawira Street and Jason Moyo Avenue, dangerously cutting across traffic. When police officers attempted to stop him, Chiutsi sped off with an officer inside the kombi, later punching the officer and shoving him out of the moving vehicle. Chiutsi also lost his Class 2 driver’s licence as a result of his reckless driving.
In another incident, two kombi drivers, Wilson Yasin (28) and Courage Tinashe Mupoperi (35), were arrested after attempting to run over police officers during a routine traffic stop on Chiremba Road in Epworth.
These incidents highlight the urgent need for stricter enforcement of traffic laws and greater accountability among kombi drivers to ensure the safety of commuters and other road users.
The ZRP’s ongoing operation against unroadworthy vehicles is a crucial step in addressing this issue and creating a safer road environment for everyone in Harare. The police have underscored their commitment to enforce safety regulations rigorously.
Comm Nyathi reiterated that the operation underscores the commitment of the police to enforce safety regulations rigorously.
The public is encouraged to report any unroadworthy vehicles or reckless driving to the police to assist in their efforts to improve road safety in the city. The ZRP’s efforts to ensure safer roads are ongoing, with the current operation scheduled to conclude on 27 October 2025.
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