Over 1 000 vehicles impounded in crackdown on unregistered cars, with illegal gadgets
More than 1 000 vehicles have been impounded this week as police launched a nationwide crackdown on unregistered vehicles and those illegally fitted with sirens, blue lights, bar lights, beacons and other unauthorised gadgets.
The operation, which covers all categories of vehicles — including private cars, company fleets, Government vehicles and public service vehicles — follows a rise in criminal activities where motorists deliberately remove registration plates to evade identification.
According to police, 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 a statement, national police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the operation is ongoing countrywide and warned that no exceptions would be made.
“The Zimbabwe Republic Police confirms that a countrywide operation is currently underway 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,” Comm Nyathi said.
“The operation covers all categories of vehicles, including family cars, company vehicles, Government vehicles and public service vehicles.”
He said the police force had noted with concern the increasing trend of motorists removing number plates to commit crimes and evade justice.
Public service vehicles, he added, were also removing plates to avoid follow-ups on traffic offences and, in some cases, had been involved in causing accidents.
Comm Nyathi also 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,” he 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.
Meanwhile, police have urged the public to disregard a document circulating on social media regarding the operation, which was allegedly leaked by an individual who attended a commanders’ meeting.
Comm Nyathi stressed that all official updates would be disseminated through authorised police channels.
“In this regard, the public should take note that all updates on the operation will be issued through official channels of the Zimbabwe Republic Police. We urge all motorists to co-operate with the Zimbabwe Republic Police during this operation for the effective maintenance of law and order in the country,” he said.
The crackdown is being conducted under the Vehicle Registration and Licensing Act (Chapter 13:14), which requires all vehicles on public roads to be registered.
In 2022, more than 45 100 motorists were arrested during a similar operation, with police at the time expressing concern over prominent individuals and politicians who continued to drive unregistered top-of-the-range vehicles.
Police have reiterated that vehicle registration is a legal requirement essential to curbing crimes such as robbery, murder, rape, and hit-and-run accidents, urging all motorists to comply with the law.
