Source: Offending motorists on notice as 9 000 vehicles impounded – herald
Freeman Razemba
Senior Reporter
NEARLY 9 000 vehicles have been impounded since police launched a nationwide crackdown on unregistered vehicles and those illegally fitted with sirens, blue lights, bar lights, beacons and other unauthorised gadgets.
According to the Vehicle Registration and Licencing Act (Chapter 13:14), no vehicle is allowed on the roads without registration number plates and the required documents.
The operation, launched last month, covers all categories of vehicles — including private cars, company fleets, Government vehicles and public service vehicles.
It follows a rise in criminal activities, where motorists deliberately remove registration plates to evade identification.
Police say such vehicles have been linked to armed robberies, kidnapping, hit-and-run accidents and various traffic violations, including driving against the flow of traffic, ignoring red traffic lights and lane violations.
In an interview, national police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed that the operation is ongoing countrywide, adding that no exceptions will be made.
“The countrywide operation targeting vehicles moving on the roads without registration number plates and those illegally fitted with sirens, blue lights, bar lights, beacons and other unauthorised gadgets is ongoing. So far, a total of 8 749 arrests have been made.
“We would like to urge motorists to ensure that their vehicles are registered in terms of the law and to assist the police in maintaining law and order in the country,” Comm Nyathi said.
He said all impounded vehicles will only be released once all necessary procedures have been followed.
Comm Nyathi noted that the police have observed with concern the increasing trend of motorists removing number plates to commit crimes and evade justice.
Public service vehicles, he added, are also removing plates to avoid follow-ups on traffic offences and, in some cases, have been involved in causing accidents.
He recently raised alarm over the unauthorised fitting of sirens and lights reserved for emergency vehicles.
“Some vehicles are being fitted with illegal sirens, blue lights and bar lights, which are reserved for authorised emergency vehicles.
“This causes chaos on the roads. Above all, the use of bar lights has also been noted to disturb the vision of other motorists at night, thereby endangering road users,” Comm Nyathi said.
Police have made it clear that unregistered vehicles will be impounded immediately and will only be released after proper registration processes have been completed and number plates affixed.
“All illegal sirens, blue lights, bar lights, beacons and related gadgets will be removed on the spot, with no excuses being entertained by the Zimbabwe Republic Police,” Comm Nyathi said.
The crackdown follows the de-registration in 2024 of more than 300 000 vehicles whose owners had failed to renew their licences for two years.
Once a vehicle is de-registered, it technically becomes valueless as the owner loses valid title to it.
To re-register the car, one must pay outstanding arrears and penalties, including insurance, and obtain clearance from the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) that the vehicle was legally imported into the country.
Furthermore, the car must be cleared by the Vehicle Theft Squad and the Vehicle Inspection Department (VID) before it can ply the country’s roads again.
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