THERE have been numerous calls to Government to reduce the number of the country’s roadblocks as they have adversely affected the tourism industry.
In response, Government said the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) will reduce the number of standard traffic roadblocks to four per province starting next week, while an integrated traffic policing system is set to be introduced.
However, spot checks by the police within cities and towns will remain in place.
This emerged at a hearing by the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Transport and Infrastructural Development attended by Home Affairs Minister Dr Ignatius Chombo and Deputy Minister Obedingwa Mguni.
Numerous roadblocks have been described as a hindrance to the smooth flow of tourist traffic and spoiling the tourism experience.
Speaking at the launch of the International Year of Sustainable Development IYSTD 2017 in Harare recently, Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa urged the Home Affairs as well as Tourism and Hospitality Industry ministries to discuss the way forward to ensure that the impediments highlighted are addressed.
“Sustainable tourism development is a relatively new global phenomenon and development strategy that seeks to deliver benefits for eternity without damaging the natural and socio-cultural resources that each country on the globe is endowed with and upon which tourism depends,” Vice-President Mnangagwa said.
“I am aware that the issue of roadblocks has been raised by a number of tourists.
“As Government, we remain committed to the free movement of tourists and the need to ensure their safety,”said VP Mnangagwa.
“I therefore urge the two ministers of Home Affairs and Tourism to sit down together under one roof and further determine how the need for safety and movement of tourists can be guaranteed.
“I also want to commend the ZRP, the visiting public and tourists, especially in the Victoria Falls area, for their co-operation.”
Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry Engineer Walter Mzembi said the heavy presence of the ZRP on the country’s roads intimidates tourists.
“95,6 percent of the people who visit Zimbabwe intend on coming back again while 83,1 percent of the satisfied visitors said they had value for money,” said Eng Mzembi.
“Less than five percent of the 38 680 people sampled, who were not satisfied, cited various reasons and 63,2 percent said Zimbabwe was a highly priced destination. 43,3 percent said they felt harassed by the police roadblocks, 31,1 percent cited poor infrastructure and other facilities while 22,2 percent of the sample cited poor quality services.
“About 14,7 percent felt they were harassed by customs and ZIMRA and 8,7 percent said they felt harassed by Immigration officials. The only good news is that only 6,5 percent felt that they would not come again because the people are not friendly.”
To address the issue of tourists who felt harassed by the police roadblocks, Government is also introducing an integrated traffic management system to be used at roadblocks.
Minister Chombo said the system will be monitored at police stations, thereby enhancing efficiency and curbing corruption.
“We have now made a zoning system where roadblocks will be deployed according to provinces,” said Minister Chombo.
“A province should not have more than four roadblocks. Prime objective of roadblocks is to detect, prevent and eradicate crime our interest is to look out for robbers. Human trafficking had up-scaled recently. There is also drug trafficking and we need to curb such.”
On the integrated electronic traffic system, Minister Chombo said 500 police gadgets had been acquired through a public-private partnership with Univern.
The electronic system will be integrated to road authorities such as the Zimbabwe National Roads Administration, the Central Vehicle Registry, Police Vehicle Theft Squad, Vehicle Inspection Department and Road Motor Transportation.
The system will be multi-faceted to weed out rogue elements such as drivers without licences, traffic offenders and un-roadworthy and unlicensed vehicles.
The system is expected to weed out fake licenses as well.
Portfolio committee chairman Dexter Nduna said parliamentarians have been pushing for drastic measures to reduce traffic roadblocks and road carnage.
The drastic measures by the Ministry of Home Affairs come at time road carnage has increased, with three major accidents killing 80 people in the last two months.
Many motorists have complained about the behaviour of the police officers who have carelessly thrown spikes at vehicles in order to stop motorists.