Online Reporter
Freeman Razemba
Senior Reporter
THE Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe (TSCZ) has called on motorists, parents and school authorities to prioritise the safety of pupils when transporting them to and from school, following the tragic death of seven children in a commuter omnibus fire in Gweru.
The appeal comes after a fatal inferno that engulfed a commuter omnibus carrying schoolchildren near Senga Shopping Centre on Wednesday, claiming the lives of seven pupils.
Preliminary investigations suggest the vehicle may have been carrying a container of petrol at the time of the incident.
Police are conducting further investigations to establish the full circumstances surrounding the tragedy.
President Mnangagwa has since declared the incident a national disaster.
In an interview, TSCZ managing director Mr Munesu Munodawafa extended condolences to the bereaved families and urged all stakeholders to strengthen safety measures in the transportation of schoolchildren.
“Firstly, we would like to extend our condolences to the parents who lost their loved ones. It is painful to lose children or relatives in such circumstances,” he said.
“And coming to the issues to do with safety, I am particularly focusing on the transportation of children to schools. I want to appeal to school authorities because, in some cases, they facilitate transport arrangements. They must ensure that the vehicles being used are roadworthy and have all the required documentation to be on the road, including valid insurance cover”.
Mr Munodawafa also warned transport operators against carrying dangerous goods alongside passengers.
He reminded motorists that they should not mix goods with people especially fuel and to avoid overloading pupils.
Mr Munodawafa said TSCZ would continue conducting road safety awareness campaigns in schools and along major highways as part of efforts to reduce road traffic accidents.
Passengers Association of Zimbabwe (PAZ) president Mr Tafadzwa Goliati said the tragedy highlighted long-standing concerns over the transportation of schoolchildren in unsafe vehicles.
“PAZ demands immediate action and police must prosecute anyone who authorized or allow fuel to be transported with passengers. VID, ZRP, and local authorities must impound any vehicle carrying fuel or other dangerous substances,” he said.
“The Ministry of Transport must ban unregistered, overloaded kombis from transporting school children. Children are not cargo.”
