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Oswell Moyo Chronicle Reporter
THE Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe in conjunction with the Zimbabwe Republic Police has embarked on a nationwide exercise to apprehend owners of unregistered driving schools and unqualified driving instructors in a bid to bring sanity to the transport sector.

The exercise began on Monday in Harare and is expected to spread to other major cities.

The latest development comes at a time when major cities such as Bulawayo, Gweru, Harare and Victoria Falls are reportedly flooded with a number of unregistered driving schools which are duping the public of their hard earned cash.

Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe spokeperson Ernest Muchena told The Chronicle yesterday that the operation began on Monday and is code named “Takuona”.

He said they started the operation after realising that there were quite a number of unregistered driving schools operating in the country.

“We’ve started a nationwide blitz code named “Takuona” which targets unregistered driving schools operating in the country.

“We’re also taking unqualified driving instructors to court. In Harare the operation started on Monday and so far two unregistered driving schools have been brought before the Harare magistrates court,” said Muchena.

He said 18 driving schools in Harare were served with notices of intention to cancel their registration licences following their failure to adhere to a code of ethics.

“Registered driving schools which don’t adhere to the code of ethics and continue to employ unqualified instructors will have their licences revoked.

“So far we’ve issued 18 letters to registered driving schools notifying them of the cancellation of their registration licences. We have given them 14 working days to comply with requirements of Statutory Instrument 309 of 1985.”

“Driving schools should have vehicles that have certificates of fitness, passenger insurance, adjustable driver’s seat and dual braking systems,” he said.

Muchena said the exercise was aimed at reducing and preventing the number of accidents which are mainly caused by human error.

“Most of the accidents in Zimbabwe are due to human error which is a result of poor driving skills. We’re trying to prevent this by ensuring that people are trained by registered driving schools so as to produce competent and safe drivers,” he said.

Zimbabwe has over 179 registered driving schools. Last year, a driving instructor returning from a road test at the Plumtree Vehicle Inspection Depot, died along with two learner drivers when their car was involved in a horrific head on collision along the Bulawayo- Plumtree highway.