89 killed in road accidents

Crime Reporter
EIGHTY-NINE people have died in road accidents so far this festive season and 568 were injured, police said yesterday.
Police recorded 1 076 accidents since December 15 when the festive season began. This marks a decrease compared to the same period last year when 178 people were killed and 775 injured in 1 140 accidents. National police spokesperson Chief Superintendent Paul Nyathi said they impounded 1 409 unroadworthy vehicles and issued 98 946 tickets to motorists for various traffic offences. “Masvingo still has the highest number of deaths so far with 17, followed by Manicaland with 16. Harare, Mashonaland West and Mashonaland Central recorded 10 deaths each,” Chief Supt Nyathi said.

In Mashonaland East eight people were killed in road accidents while Matabeleland South and Matabeleland North recorded six deaths each. Bulawayo witnessed the least number of accidents with one while five people died in the Midlands. The Christmas and New Year Holidays are usually associated with a high number of road accidents due to the large volumes of vehicular traffic. Last year, more than 200 people died and close to 1 000 were injured in road traffic accidents during the festive season.

Meanwhile Chief Supt Nyathi said there were no major incidents of crime recorded throughout the country. He urged people to ensure that they put adequate security measures at their homes and premises. He added police would continue mounting 24 hour roadblocks on the country’s major roads and carrying out patrols to curb criminal activities.