Parliament seeks stiff punishment for road traffic offences

Malawi Parliament on Wednesday moved in swiftly seeking stiffer punishment for road traffic offenders.

This was after a report was presented in the House on the increase of road traffic offences in the country.

The House has suggested that the offence of threatening or use of violence against a police officer on duty should attract a fine of K100,000.

This was after several video clips went viral in social media platforms, showing civilians attacking police traffic officers on duty.

The members of parliament have also agreed that anyone who allows another person to use his or her learning driving licence, driving licence or any driving official document should be fined K100,000 up from K30,000.

A person who impersonates a traffic police officer will now pay K100,000 whilst owners of vehicles, mostly trucks and lorries, who fail to remove their vehicles which break on the roads and block access of the roads by other users will now pay K130,000.