Harare – The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has launched a nationwide operation targeting unregistered vehicles, warning that all such vehicles will be impounded with immediate effect. The police have stated that the vehicles will only be released once the necessary registration processes have been completed.
In a recent statement, the police warned all motorists against driving unregistered vehicles, emphasising that doing so is a flagrant violation of the Vehicle Registration and Licensing Act (Chapter 13:14). The new measures apply to all types of vehicles, including those owned by families, companies, as well as Government departments.
The ZRP’s statement underscores the seriousness with which they are treating this issue, aiming to bring order and accountability to the nation’s roads. Motorists have therefore been advised to take the warning seriously as the country reinforces its enforcement of vehicle registration and ownership transfer regulations.
The clampdown on such vehicles will be with immediate effect and police said their release will only be granted upon full compliance with registration laws.
Beyond unregistered vehicles, the police have also raised concerns regarding widespread irregularities in vehicle ownership transfers. Investigations have revealed a troubling trend where vehicles are resold multiple times without the required legal change of ownership.
They indicated that some cars have reportedly been sold to as many as five or seven individuals while remaining registered under the original owner’s name.
“Police investigations have uncovered a disturbing pattern where a vehicle is sold multiple times but still remains listed under the original owner’s name,” they said in a statement, highlighting the extent of the problem.
They indicated that such cases often come to light when a vehicle is involved in criminal activities or traffic violations, complicating the tracking of the responsible party. This practice not only undermines the integrity of the vehicle registration system but also poses significant challenges for law enforcement when investigating crimes or traffic offenses involving these vehicles.
The police have pledged to investigate such cases thoroughly and pursue legal action against those involved, calling on motorists to ensure that their vehicles are properly registered and that ownership changes are processed within two weeks of any sale in accordance with legal requirements. This commitment to legal action sends a strong message to those who flout the law and attempt to evade their responsibilities.
