EDITORIAL: We are the voice of the people

ONCE in a while, a newspaper has to take a bold stand.

Such a move is usually largely inspired by trying to cast a light on something which is of national importance.

It is meant to provoke action, which would result in a solution to some issues, which really matter to the newspaper’s readers.

On Tuesday, we took a stand to campaign for something to be done to ensure that we tame the death trap at the Mabvuku turn-off, where a number of deadly accidents have occurred.

We were inspired by the belief that if we highlight the problem at this dangerous area, where many lives have been lost, it could also push the authorities, in this case the city fathers, to act.

We were also inspired by the disappointment that came with noting that a number of leading officials from the City of Harare have in the past promised that something will be done, to try and tame this beast, but nothing was done eventually.

We were inspired by the belief that we speak on behalf of the ordinary men and women, and boys and girls, who call Mabvuku home and do not have a voice loud enough for their concerns, about this black spot, to be heard.

We believe we are their voice, their medium, and we are speaking on behalf of them when we call for measures to be put in place, which will help reduce the traffic accidents which routinely occur at this black spot.

We also believe we are also representing those motorists, who don’t necessarily stay in Mabvuku, but pass through this dangerous spot every day of their lives, while using the busy Mutare highway.

These are the bus drivers and passengers who will be travelling from Harare to Mutare, from Norton to Rusape, from Kadoma to Marondera and from the capital’s CBD to such areas like Ruwa and Zimre Park.

These are the people we are proudly representing because they don’t have to deal with such a death trap every day of their lives.

We can’t have a situation where we have motorists, and commuters, who have to fill relieved, every day of their lives, on the occasions they manage to pass a part of the road, which they use, without any incident.

This is the scary part of how dangerous the Mabvuku turn-off is and the unacceptable high number of accidents, which we have seen there, tell the true story of the extreme danger of this death trap.

Yes, there has been human error, we can never try to cover our own shortcomings, but it’s also true that this is a very dangerous area and that is the reason why we see more accidents there than at any other part of the highway.

Hopefully, the city fathers will act and find ways of how they can tame this beast and, as a newspaper, all we can do is to highlight the issue.

This is a stand we have taken with pride.