Govt Hands Over 100 Breathalysers To ZRP

The Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development has handed over 100 breathalysers, 15 breathalyser printers and 1,000 disposable breathing apparatus units to the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) for immediate deployment on major highways.

The move comes ahead of the festive season, a period traditionally associated with increased road accidents.

The equipment was procured through the Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe (TSCZ).

Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Felix Mhona, together with his Permanent Secretary Joy Makumbe, officially handed over the devices in Harare on Friday, 21 November. The event was attended by senior police officers, legislators and Government dignitaries.

In his remarks, Minister Mhona said Zimbabwe’s road safety situation remains critical, with an average of five people dying on the country’s roads each day.

He added that the nation loses approximately US$406 million annually, about 3 per cent of GDP, due to an average of 40,000 road traffic accidents recorded every year. He said:

“This equipment will dramatically enhance the operational capacity of our police service, enabling widespread and highly visible sobriety checks.

“It acts as a powerful deterrent, discouraging drivers from drinking and driving in the first place.

“More importantly, it allows for the swift and objective detection of intoxicated drivers, removing them from our roads before they can cause irreversible tragedy.”

Breathalysers are portable devices used to measure a person’s blood alcohol concentration (BAC) through their breath.

Police use professional-grade breathalysers to enforce drink-driving laws, including evidential models whose results are admissible in court.

Under the Road Traffic Act, driving with a blood alcohol concentration of 80 milligrams or more per 100 millilitres of blood is a serious offence. Penalties include fines of up to level 10, imprisonment for up to five years, or both.

Commuter omnibus and heavy-vehicle drivers face even stiffer penalties, with jail terms ranging from one to 10 years.

More: The Herald