Online Reporter
Road traffic accidents last week claimed 24 lives in just five days, a disturbing development which confirms that the fight to tame the traffic jungle is far from being won.
The nation was once again plunged into mourning following the three major accidents which claimed 24 lives in just five days.
On May 23, eight Catholic pilgrims from Hwange town were killed when the driver of the vehicle they were travelling in lost control at Deka bridge resulting in the vehicle plunging into Deka River. On May 27, 10 people were killed along the Kwekwe-Gokwe road when the bus they were travelling in collided with a haulage truck at the 110km peg.
The Gokwe accident happened a day after another fatal collision near Redcliff turn-off which claimed six lives. Following the increased carnage on our roads last week, President Mnangagwa ordered urgent and co-ordinated action to stem the increased road accidents.
He said the increasing loss of lives should awaken the nation’s collective conscience and push authorities to act decisively against reckless driving and unroadworthy vehicles.
“In a space of five days, our nation has witnessed three major road traffic accidents in which 24 innocent lives perished,” said President Mnangagwa. He said this grave turn of mishaps on the country’s roads should exercise the nation’s collective conscience and spur Government departments and agencies involved in ensuring road safety to act with urgency and greater co-ordination to stop the carnage.
President Mnangagwa said the increased road accidents called for drastic measures and lasting solutions targeting irresponsible behaviour on the country’s roads.
Last year, the country also recorded three major accidents which claimed 54 lives.
The first one was in February when 25 people were killed when a bus and a haulage truck collided near Luthumba Tollgate, 25km from Beitbridge town.
In May, 12 people died on the spot when a fuel tanker collided with two other vehicles on the Harare-Bulawayo Highway near Sebakwe River in Kwekwe and in July, 17 people were killed when a haulage truck and a commuter omnibus collided at Manyame Bridge near St Mary’s Police Station in Chitungwiza.
Most of these accidents are as a result of human error which means they can be avoided hence the need to ensure that reckless drivers are not allowed behind the wheel.
It is our fervent hope that Government departments and agencies involved in ensuring road safety will act with urgency and greater co-ordination as directed by the President. This carnage on our roads cannot be allowed to continue.
