PPDAZ BACKS NEW TRAFFIC FINES INITIATIVE

THE Public and Private Bus Association of Zambia (PPDAZ) has commended the Zambia Police for opening three bank accounts for traffic offenders to deposit money from fines.

PPDAZ Josiah Majuru welcomed the decision to open the bank accounts saying it would help bring about transparency and accountability.

Before the introduction of the new system, which is being piloted in some selected places, erring motorists used to make payment to police officers at road blocks, a situation created an enabling environment for corruption.

Mr Majuru said while the association had no qualms with the new system. He suggested traffic offenders be allowed to pay the fines within 14 or 21 days once their vehicles were impounded.

In an interview with the Daily Nation Mr Majuru said that as an association it would be unfair to impound a vehicle and be told to go and pay the fine at the bank with long queues of customers inside. That would be very inconveniencing.

“As an association we are hopeful that Zambia police have a system where people who commit traffic offences will be given time to clear their debt but not immediately when they are fined,” he said.

The PPDAZ president said as an association they were hopeful that Zambia police had now come up with a proper system to avoid inconveniencing the public.

Mr Majuru appealed for massive sensitisation among the public on the importance of the new system of paying traffic fines.