Munyaradzi Doma
The Passenger Association of Zimbabwe has called on the Liquor Board to revoke licences of bars and bottles stores which are operating near termini, as they allege this has led to many drivers consuming alcohol while on duty.
In a letter to the Liquor Board and copied to Department of Civil Protection, Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe Republic Police, Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development and City of Harare, PAZ National Coordinator, Tafadzwa Goliati argued that this has led to many accidents, as some drivers drive while intoxicated.
“We have observed with dismay that licensed bottle stores and bars are operating in Harare, in Mbare and Central Business District, Copacabana and Rezende Parkade.
“As a result, passenger service vehicle drivers are driving under the influence of alcohol.
“Consequently, this endangers the lives of passengers and other road users through traffic accidents,” said Goliati.
He added: “We request you to consider the proximity of a liquor selling store or bar to a bus terminus before granting a license.
“We also make a plea for such licences, where they exist in Zimbabwe, to be revoked.
“We are also concerned that some people are using vehicles and their vending businesses to illicitly sell liquor.”
Goliati further reiterated that as the commuter omnibus crews will be waiting to load passengers, some are taking that opportunity to drink beer “while on national duty, which is a danger to other road users”.
Driving under the influence is among the top causes of accidents and according to a Road Safety Performance Review on Zimbabwe, it said the main cause of accidents is reportedly human error.
The review further states that according to a research conducted in 2018 by the Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe, 94 percent of road crash accident deaths and injuries are due to human error rather than vehicle defects.
It is further stated that while there are other reasons for dying on the road, alcohol is a major cause of road traffic deaths and serious injury.
And while it’s been two weeks since PAZ wrote the letter to the Liquor Board, they are yet to get a response.
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