Excessive roadblocks necessary: ZRP

The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has said the excessive roadblocks on the country’s highways are necessary and progressive as they help curb crime on the road.

Addressing delegates who attended the Ease of Doing Business in the Tourism and hospitality industry, Senior Assistant Commissioner Chikowore Mujanga, who is the National Traffic Coordinator, said  numerous  roadblocks serve as a way of cutting down crime related activities .

“We understand many people cry foul over the increased number of roadblocks on the highways. They are not there for display but they are very necessary and are very progressive as opposed to the general perception that the public has.

“The major reasons why we have too many of these roadblocks is to curb crime on the highways. We also do traffic evaluations,” he said.

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Senior Assistant Commissioner Mujanga said some of the roadblocks are not necessarily ZRP roadblocks but  belong to their  partners such as the Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe Broadcasting Cooperation (ZBC) licensing department, ZIMRA checkups, Stock Theft Control Units as well as Vehicle Inspection Department (VID)

“We have other stakeholders  we help because we know they cannot do it alone. So do not be misled to think that every roadblock you encounter belongs ZRP,” said Senior Assistant Commissioner Mujanga.

He however said they are in the process of reducing roadblocks and replacing them with combined operations where various stakeholders will be asked to join forces and have a combined roadblock so as to ease the volume of police on the highway

Delegates had earlier expressed concern over the number of road blocks leading to several tourist destinations in the country, a move which they said seems to be hindering the ease of doing business In the tourism industry.