The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has announced it will pursue legal action against bystanders who photograph or record videos of traffic accidents rather than assisting victims.
In a public statement issued via social media, authorities urged citizens to change their behaviour at crash sites, explicitly warning that "the law will take its course on anyone who will be found taking photographs or videos of accident scenes."
Instead of capturing content to share online, police officials directed the public to prioritize rendering immediate assistance. Authorities stated that bystanders should focus on promptly notifying emergency services and offering first aid to victims where possible, rather than documenting "horrific" scenes for social media consumption.
The ZRP cited a recent road traffic accident in Masvingo involving the family of Ronald Mujuru as the catalyst for the public warning. According to the police statement, public conduct surrounding the Mujuru family crash served as a specific "case in point" necessitating the crackdown.
The statement did not specify the exact charges individuals might face if caught recording at accident scenes. - Zimbo LIVE Harare
