Comments

Your readers should be aware that although the Transport Owners Association won their case against fire extinguishers & triangles, the government immediately appealed, therefore law stays in place until outcome of the appeal.
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Well done to all who took part in the Chirundu Clean Up.  We encourage more Groups, schools, and organisations to get involved.   There is information on the Environment Africa website about how to join the Clean Up Zimbabwe campaign which has been running since 1993 and How to organise a Clean Up.  Join now and become part of the Clean Up Zimbabwe movement.
www.environmentafrica.org  look under campaigns.
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Motor Vehicles - New type reflective “honeycomb” strips  - Although a standard engineering grade of tape has been accepted for many years, Statutory Instrument 154 of 2010, refers to honeycomb grade being required. The ZRP started enforcing this requirement earlier this year. We can assist you with honeycomb tape, 50mm wide in amber, white and red. the price is $5-00/metre and pro-rata thereafter. phoenixzim@gmail.com – Sean Quinlan – Big Sky

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BEWARE: Yesterday (12/12/12) at about 1200 hrs  3 or 4 well dressed men forced their way into a property in Greystone park. They said they were from Econet and wanted to look for a site for a cell mast but when challenged for their ID by the owner they retreated in a hurry leaving in a white Nissan.

Then at about 1430, 3 or 4 men asked a property owner in Vainona to buy some goods from him, he went to show one man the goods while a second distracted the wife by trying to buy some plants and at the same time a third man entered the house and investigated the office. Thankfully the servant saw what was happening and raised the alarm at which point all 3 left the property in a hurry also leaving in a white Nissan.

LESSON LEARNT do not allow ANYBODY on to your property unless you are sure you know them, speak to them through the gate and ask for ID.

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I have been in contact with ZESA today and they have advised me that they are connecting everyone to the pre-paid meters so basically you will have to wait until they come and start working in your area. I did ask when they expected to be finished with setting everyone up and they cannot give a specific date.

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On my way to work and home again, I pass a fair number of street kids (I can’t say if they are homeless or not), most of them with adults (usually looking handicapped in one way or another), but my biggest shock is that there is one kid at the King George and Lomagundi Road intersection, who is tiny, he cant be older than 4 or 5, he can barely see over my driver window (I drive a mazda demeo).  The really scary part is the way drivers drive, esp. the bigger cars and commuter omnibuses – well I just pray that he does not get run over... he is that small – even though he is leading an adult from car to car.  Avondale shopping centre is another place where there are really young kids hanging around – usually the mothers are somewhere under a tree somewhere in the car park, but these kids just about hang onto cars by the robots, how none of them have been run over is also scary.  I guess what my question is – is there not something to be done to get these small kids off the road?  And the 2^nd question is what happens the driver that (God forbid) knocks into one of these kids, even if the child was in the wrong (as in standing so close to the car, not moving out the way, holding onto the wing mirror – not moving not matter what you say...).

Bulawayo Crime

ARMED ROBBERY – TODAY 12.16PM  IN BULAWAYO CITY CENTRE TODAY AT LUNCH TIME ALONG JOSIAH TONGOGARA STREET OPPOSITE DOVES FUNERAL PARLOUR, TWO MALES WALKED IN AND MADE EVERYONE TO LIE ON HE GROUND THEY HAD A FIREARM, AND DEMANDED THE MANAGER TO GIVE THEM EVERYTHING INCLUDING THE CAR KEYS, STOLEN FROM THIS ARMED ROBBERY WAS RAND 55,000-00; USD12,000-00, LAPTOPS, CELL PHONES, AND THE MANAGERS PISTOL WHICH HE WAS WEARING IN A HOLSTER….. THEY ALSO DEMANDED THE KEYS TO THE COMPANY VEHICLE, THE DETAILS OF THE VEHICLE STOLEN IS: BLUE TOYOTA CAMRY REGISTRATION NUMBER ACG 9687

ROBBERY TODAY 2.54PM – COMPANY ALONG TROJAN STREET MALE AND FEMALES WENT IN LOOKING AS PROSPECTIVE BUYERS OF GOODS, THE MANAGERESS LEFT TO GO TO ANOTHER OFFICE, LEAVING THE CLEANER LADY WITH THE CUSTOMERS, THE CRIMINALS THEN ASKED THE CLEANER LADY FOR SOME WATER, SHE LEFT TO GO AND GET THEM WATER, LEAVING THEM COMPLETELY UNACCOMPANIED, THEY RANSACKED THE MANAGERESS DESK STEALING ALL THE MONEY AND OTHER VALUABLES, THE GET AWAY VEHICLE IS A SILVER GREY STATION WAGON FAMILIAR WITH A WHEEL CAP MISSING, THIS ROBBERY HAPPENED SO FAST THAT NOBODY HAD TIME TO GET THE REGISTRATION OF THE VEHICLE HOWEVER THERE ARE EYEWITNESSES WHO CAN POSITIVELY I.D. THE ROBBERS

PLEASE BE VIGILANT AND DON’T KEEP LARGE AMOUNTS OF MONEY ON YOU – BANK – BANK- BANK IF YOU HAVE NOT GOT TIME TO BANK PHONE WARREN KING AT SAFEGUARD AND MAKE ARRANGMENTS FOR CASH IN TRANSIT PICK UPS FROM YOUR PREMISES

SHOULD YOU HAPPEN TO SEE ANY OF THE ABOVE VEHICLES PLEASE CONTACT C.I.D HOMICIDE BULAWAYO 71568

Transport Regulations

HI All, The following write ups were sent to me today by Sean Quinlan phoenixzim@gmail.com of Big Sky and in the ZNCC daily newsletter – Regards, Mike G

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Feedback on the ZNCC meeting held on Wednesday, 12^th Dec. between business, various law enforcement authorities, business and community organisations:

It was confirmed that the Ministry of Transport has appealed against the High Court ruling which set aside the need for motorists to carry fire extinguishers, triangles, etc.  Until the matter is heard in the Supreme Court in 2013, ALL the regulations in SI154 still apply.

The ZNCC meeting was very productive, with a number of senior representatives from government attending, including the VID, the Attorney General’s office and ZRP including Traffic. Many questions were answered constructively and in our opinion, excellent progress was made today to address concerns of the motoring public. The ZNCC is putting in place a structure for ongoing dialogue, with organisational support from Rob Kuipers of Swift/Unifreight and his team.

We came away from the meeting encouraged! We will continue to liaise with the various authorities to get the facts on issues affecting motorists, and will give feedback whenever we have anything useful to share

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Published December 13 2012 (ZNCC Newsletter)

ZNCC yesterday successfully held an engagement dialogue with the country traffic police department. The purpose of the dialogue was to map ways of reducing road carnage on the roads during this festive season as well as discussing the role and reasons for the traffic police department to put many road blocks on the roads.

Speaking at the occasion Snr Ass commissioner Chari said Business or The national economy can only move when the wheels of Industry and commerce are turning. Without transport there will be no production. Goods needs to be moved from point A to B, this includes raw materials, machinery, commuting public, finished goods and fuel. In the provision of Goods and services these vehicles contribute to accidents that claim some innocent lives some of which are breadwinners.

He noted that The absence of reliable Rail services has caused a strain on our road network due to the transportation of heavy loads on the infrastructure. The damage on the road infrastructure has in a big way contributed to the road carnage.

He noted that aim of police deployments on the roads are aimed at getting rid of the, Defective vehicles, Unroadworthy vehicles, Vehicles with tyres on cord, Non PSVs and Haulage Trucks that carry passengers for reward, Vehicles that do not comply with the provisions of the stated Legal provisions, Under qualified Drivers in terms of Age and Class of vehicles, Reduce Road Rage cases.

He said During the Festive period, the Command will be out in full force to check deployments as Managerial visibility has been proved to be a corruption reducer.

“All those members who would be caught engaging in corrupt activities will face immediate disciplinary and criminal measures before they are shown the exit from the Police Force”,he added.

“Our appeal to members of the public is that, anyone who has a genuine case against the members of the Police Force to approach the Member in Charge or Officer in Charge station, the Officer Commanding District, Officer Commanding Province until they get to the Commissioner General of Police if not satisfied by the services or help offered,” Chari advised

Warning to travellers to SA

IF YOU ARE DRIVING AT NIGHT AND EGGS ARE THROWN AT YOUR WINDSCREEN, DO NOT STOP TO CHECK THE CAR, DO NOT OPERATE THE WIPER AND DO NOT SPRAY ANY WATER BECAUSE EGGS MIXED WITH WATER BECOME MILKY AND BLOCK YOUR VISION UP TO 92.5%, AND YOU ARE THEN FORCED TO STOP BESIDE THE ROAD AND BECOME A VICTIM OF THESE CRIMINALS. THIS IS A NEW TECHNIQUE USED BY GANGS, PLEASE INFORM YOUR FRIENjDS AND RELATIVES.THESE ARE DESPERATE TIMES AND THESE ARE UNSAVOURY INDIVIDUALS WHO WILL TAKE DESPERATE MEASURES TO GET WHAT THEY WANT. Please talk to your loved ones about this. This is a tactic being used. Please be safe. Get started NOW SEND THIS MESSAGE TO ALL YOUR FRIENDS AND LOVED ONES TO BE CAREFUL SAPS 10111- 08210111

 

Comments

If I may I would like to add my small contribution to the comments that have been coming in regarding the unruly behavior of Zim teenagers whilst on their O level break. My wife and I were asked to chaperone 12 teenagers who were going to Mozambique for their O level break, as you can imagine I was very hesitant after reading all the comments of the teenagers behavior in Kariba but we decided to go anyway. I can tell you that each and every one of these teenagers acted in a manner that would have made their parents proud, they were always polite and courteous and never once gave us a problem, they always picked up after themselves and made sure that their area was always tidied. There was drinking on this trip but each teenager conducted themselves in the correct manner and not once did any of them get out of hand or rowdy to the point of being unruly. Throughout the whole trip there was one broken glass which I witnessed and can confirm that it was a total accident. This trip showed me that teenagers can have a lot of fun without getting out of hand and a lot of this stems from their upbringing and I can see that these particular teenagers have had a very good disciplined one that has taught them good morels. I would not hesitate to chaperone the same caliber of teenagers again

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Just thought it would be good to confirm a very similar incident on the same afternoon with this bunch of crooks. They signed into our housing complex at Dolphin Sqaure under the name Martin and Peter claiming to be Makandiwa's brother. To the one house they were selling insurance, to the other they were on church business. Their vehicle had the following number plate ANC 0860. They were passing around bumper stickers with the flowing detail: 20 Parust, 3rd floor, Park House, Harare. Cel 0773371777/0773275230.

The third guy, a young man in his twenties managed to make his way into the house whilst our maids attention had been stolen by the other two crooks. Twenty dollars went missing from a wallet and they had gone through my stuff in the house. I strongly suggest that if people feel the need to help someone (strangers) in 'distress' that they shouldn't allow them beyond the gate.

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In response to the ZESA pre paid meters - PLEASE be careful - I had some guys visiting my property about 2 months ago, saying they were ZESA and had been sent to change the meter outside and INSIDE!  I don't have a meter inside! I wasn't at home but my staff know never to let anyone in unless instructed by me.  I reported this in person to ZESA Borrowdale, but it was quite a procedure to ascertain whether anyone had been instructed to go to my property or not so I left without finding out.  The man I spoke to said ALL ZESA WORKERS CARRY ZETDC ID'S.  Please ensure they show this and if you are still not sure, phone Borrowdale office and check they are employed there before you let them in.  These guys will try absolutely anything.  Strange thing was they were apparently in an old ZESA vehicle but what alerted me was it was 3pm on a Saturday afternoon.

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The other day this little boy was actually doing cart wheels next to and in front of my car at the Lomugundi and King George Lights in peak traffic on his own well his parents were sitting on the other side of the road. Really this should not be allowed and the police should stop this happening and Child Line should be aware of this. This is abuse of children using them to beg

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We live in a retirement center and need to please warn people of a well dressed man standing by watching ZESA employees unload the new meters from parked truck and giving  the impression of being in charge. He is a  well dressed “Gentleman”  was desperate to use my toilet.  I was  distracted  by the ZESA employee. The well dressed “gentleman”  then left and I  could not find my purse. He returned on the pretext of leaving his cell phone behind. I saw him touch my handbag which was on a chair and I could see my purse returned. When I questioned him he pushed his way outside and of course all my money was gone. I was told this happened at another retirement center as well. I was under the impression he was with ZESA but apparently not. PLEASE be warned that this is happening and do not let anyone into your home unless you are sure of their credentials even then DO NOT leave them alone for a second it happens so quickly.