Abandoned vehicles to be towed away from highways

“According to the Road Safety Performance Review, a traffic crash occurs every 15 minutes in Zimbabwe. Over 35 000 crashes occur annually, an average of at least five people are killed every day, more than 1 800 people die every year and over 10 000 are injured annually,” said Minister Mhona.

Freeman Razemba-Senior Reporter

THE Government is set to clear the nation’s highways of abandoned vehicles in a comprehensive road safety overhaul, which includes the deployment of new heavy-duty tow trucks and advanced vehicle inspection technology to curb accidents and modernise traffic management.

Through the CMED, the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development has procured 10 heavy-duty tow trucks dedicated to removing accident-damaged and broken-down vehicles, with plans to acquire an additional 10.

The move directly addresses a recent spate of accidents where motorists have collided with stationary vehicles, resulting in fatalities and injuries.

Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Felix Mhona announced the measures, saying that abandoned vehicles pose a serious and persistent hazard on the roads.

“This partnership is actively addressing the persistent issue of accident-damaged and broken-down vehicles that are left or abandoned along our roads. These vehicles pose a serious hazard to the motoring public, contributing to avoidable accidents and fatalities.”

The owners of towed vehicles, he said, will bear the full cost of the removal.

Minister Mhona also highlighted the progress made through the Emergency Road Rehabilitation Programme and the Road Development Programme, which have improved the overall state of the country’s roads.

A cornerstone of the modernisation drive is the rollout of the Zimbabwe Integrated Transport Management Information System (ZIMTIS).