Mushikashika drivers to explain all dents on their cars as ZRP hunt for hit & run drivers

MUSHIKASHIKA owners and drivers will now have to explain every dent on their cars as police continue hunting for suspected offenders involved in hit-and-run accidents.

In the past two weeks, the police have impounded more than 200 kombis and private vehicles for a range of traffic-related offences.

The police said their operations, aimed at restoring order in Harare’s Central Business District (CBD), will be intensified.

Commissioner Maxwell Chikunguru, the Officer Commanding Harare Metropolitan Province, toured Milton Park Police Station yesterday, where some of the impounded vehicles are being kept under guard.

He urged commuters to resist the lure of boarding Mushikashika because a number of these cars were being used by criminals.

“Police have impounded more than 200 vehicles for various offences that include ferrying passengers,” said Comm Chikunguru.

“The impounded vehicles will only be released to the genuine owners in line with the Road Traffic Act, including requirements for registration for vehicles used to ferry members of the public.”

Comm Chikunguru said some of the impounded vehicles had a number of dents, which police believe could be linked to hit-and-run incidents.

“Hence, every driver or owner is required to account for the dents on their vehicles and prove that they are not as a result of hit-and-run cases.

“They have to account for every dent,” he said.

He said the police were also checking vehicle ownership changes, in accordance with the Road Traffic Act.

He said the operation targeting vehicles without registration plates will continue until sanity is restored on the roads.

“We are warning motorists who try to evade arrest by saying this vehicle belongs to so-and-so senior police officer, name dropping, police will not take this lightly.

“We will investigate it with a view to fight corruption,” he said.

Comm Chikunguru said their fight against the menace posed by Mushikashika will not end.

“The holding bays will expose all Mushikashika vehicles,” he said.