Ministers rallies all against traffic violations a...

Ministers rallies all against traffic violations as fatal road crashes mount

Oscar J Jeke

The government has called on all road traffic stakeholders, including traffic enforcement agencies, road safety actors, motorists and road users to collaborate in the fight against road fatalities in the wake of recurring accidents affecting the country.

The remarks come as there have been at least three serious road fatalities, including the Western Cape accident involving a Zimbabwean registered bus operator Simplex Transport and Logistics which claimed 15 lives while 12 were injured.

The other one is the Masvingo-Beitbridge road accident on March 16 that claimed nine lives with 39 injured following a head on collision between a City Bus and a Blue Circle bus.

The accident along the Harare-Bulawayo road involving a Toyota Aqua and a Sinotruck that killed five teachers in the process on March 15 is the third most fatal in the same period.

In a statement, Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development, Felix Mhona said that it is saddening that the nation has experienced other fatalities within a space of days, adding that all stakeholders should work together including road users in reducing road fatalities through adherence and right attitudes while on the road.

“The accidents are yet another clarion call to all stakeholders of the road traffic ecosystem, including motorists, operators and passengers to be more vigilant against road traffic violations especially over speeding.

“The Ministry rallies traffic law enforcement agencies, road traffic safety actors, motorists and road users to collaborate against road fatalities. As passionate proponents of Road Safety, we wish to assure the nation that the Second Republic is committed to the formulation of robust legal, policy and administrative mechanisms to improve the country’s road safety regime and performance,” Minister Mhona said.

The minister also expressed concern over the number of road fatalities while the country prepares for the Easter holidays, noting that efforts to reduce and manage safety on the roads are already being implemented to make sure the occurrences do not recur.

The Passengers Association of Zimbabwe weighed in, noting that there is need for caution and regulatory frameworks on speeding so as to reduce the number of accidents, while urging the rural folk to keep their livestock safe and away from the roads.

“We urge drivers of passenger service vehicles to exercise extreme caution. With bus collisions occurring rising, we believe that the time is ripe to implement speed limiters. According to Statutory Instrument 118 of 2023, which stipulates that speed limiters and speed monitors must work together,” PAZ said in a statement.