Chronicle Editor
Michael Magoronga, Midlands Correspondent
The recent road accident which killed six people and left nine others injured, left more questions than answers as to whether it could have been avoided or not.
The accident, involving a Nissan Caravan Commuter omnibus and a Scania Truck, occurred along Gokwe-Kwekwe Highway on December 5.
The driver of the commuter omnibus reportedly made a sudden stop and the truck driver who was following behind, rammed into the stationary commuter omnibus which had 14 passengers aboard.
There was divided opinion as to who was to blame for the accident with one section laying the blame on the commuter omnibus driver for suddenly stopping along the highway and not paving the way for the truck to pass safely.
Another section, meanwhile, blamed the truck driver for failure to maintain braking distance and lack of concentration along the road. If he was concentrating, he could have seen the commuter omnibus’ brake lights and he could have avoided the accident.
This argument is actually consistent with the law which says any driver who hits the back of a vehicle moving ahead of them commits a crime, regardless of whether the driver ahead makes a sudden stop or not.
This brought to the fore the apparent recklessness that drivers are exhibiting on the country’s roads as failure to follow basic road rules has resulted in unnecessary loss of lives.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa sent a message of condolences to the families which lost their loved ones in the accident and offered State-assisted burials for the families as well.
Urging motorists to be more vigilant and cautious this festive season, he said the continued loss of life due to road traffic accidents largely as a result of human error, is worrying.
“As we enter the festive season, I appeal to all Zimbabweans to be responsible and vigilant on our roads to avoid costly accidents. I call upon motorists to always ensure that their vehicles are roadworthy and urge them to avoid speeding, overloading and drunken driving,” he said.
President Mnangagwa also implored police to be in full force to curb wayward behaviours by motorists to avoid unnecessary loss of lives.
But it takes a combination of all important aspects of driving like roadworthy vehicles and following basic road rules that are taught during acquisition of drivers’ licence for the roads to be safer.
The rate at which human error is responsible for a number of casualties on our roads also left many questioning the driver licensing process amid reports of corruption leading to incompetent drivers flooding our roads.
Reports are that some incompetent drivers are being given licences upon bribing instructors and some officials at the Vehicle Inspection Department (VID).
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development, Engineer Theodious Chinyanga said human error does not necessarily mean incompetence but was quick to say Government was moving to curb corruption at VID which tests drivers.
Human error, he said, may mean error in judgement, error in understanding vehicle technical limitations or visual challenges and pointing to driver testing as the root cause cannot help curb driver delinquency.
“Agreed, corruption is still lingering in our VID and it has to be dealt with like in all its forms. Mitigation measures have been put in place at driver testing centres. For instance more that 60 percent of testing points have been emplaced in the centres and drivers are being tested in full glare of the other officers, public and waiting learner drivers. So, with these measures, corruption has been minimised,” said Eng Chinyanga.
He said the general lack of respect for other drivers and road rules was the major cause for road carnage.
“There is general driver behavioural traits and basic lack of courtesy and respect for other drivers on the roads, even lack of basic road rules like speed limits. To therefore state the root cause is driver training will never help to tame the jungle on the roads,” he said.
Mr Tafadzwa Goliati, Passenger Association of Zimbabwe (PAZ) National Coordinator said corruption must be nipped in the bud.
“As PAZ we have received the reports of corruption and we are concerned about them and we feel that it compromises the safety of passengers and commuters on the roads. It is important for drivers to acquire proper documentation for them to safeguard their personal lives and of those they ferry. We are therefore conducting awareness campaigns focusing on the importance of safety on our roads,” said Mr Goliati.
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter