Malawi authorities kicked off a nationwide sweep targeting cars without plates after officials linked the trend to rising crime rates and public safety concerns. The Directorate of Road Traffic and Safety Services teamed up with police to seize unregistered vehicles, whether they are fresh off the lot or older rides whose owners skipped the 14-day registration window. Spokesperson Angellina Makwambe said criminals have been using plateless cars to dodge identification during robberies and hit-and-runs, which makes tracking suspects basically impossible.
Cops started impounding vehicles in Blantyre and Lilongwe, and more checkpoints are rolling out on major roads soon. Owners can only reclaim seized cars after paying fines and finishing registration paperwork. Officials called out dealerships for handing over vehicles before completing legal docs, which contributed to the surge in unregistered rides clogging Malawian streets.
Cops started impounding vehicles in Blantyre and Lilongwe, and more checkpoints are rolling out on major roads soon. Owners can only reclaim seized cars after paying fines and finishing registration paperwork. Officials called out dealerships for handing over vehicles before completing legal docs, which contributed to the surge in unregistered rides clogging Malawian streets.
