Green Fuel on road safety awareness campaign

Freedom Mutanda
Green Fuel has embarked on road safety awareness campaign in schools as sugar cane harvesting, which involves intensive haulage trucks movement begins in Middle Save.

Sugar cane harvesting at the company’s fields are ready for harvesting; thus, the security officers, Mr Godfrey Chapara and Mr Thomas Chiminya, drove around schools to alert pupils in particular and the people in general about the dangers posed by the articulated trucks that would ply the Middle Save to Chisumbanje road.

The security officers moved from school to school in the Lowveld, starting from Sabi Valley School at Green Fuel, right up to St Peter’s Primary School in Chisumbanje, just before the haulage trucks that carry the harvested sugar cane get to the Green Fuel Sugar Mill.

Since the inception of the mill at Chisumbanje, there was a considerable increase in accidents attributed to the Green Fuel trucks that take harvested cane from Rating to the mill as well as the trucks that ferry ethanol, a product of sugar cane, to big cities such as Harare and Mutare.

‘’We want to alert pupils on the dangers of taking life for granted in view of the imminent harvesting period.

“Research has shown that young people, whether at primary or secondary school, rush to pick up pieces of sugar cane that would have fallen as the truck rumbles on.

“Against such a background, it is incumbent upon the company to warn people about possible hazards as the trucks move to and from Chisumbanje,’’ Mr Chiminya said.

Over the 90 km stretch of road from the fields to the mill, some people wait for the trucks to pass by for them to enjoy cane sugar, in some instances, the children put some hurdles in order to slow down the truck making it easy for them to take the pieces of sugar cane.

‘’We can’t lose lives when people have insufficient information about what we are doing.

“Some motorists don’t check whether their indicator lights are functional or not.

“As a result, the articulated lorry will not give way and the small car is trampled resulting in loss of life.

“Actually, defensive driving ought to be a must for all drivers.

“Drivers must exercise caution at all times,’’ Mr Chapara said.

In all the schools that the duo visited, they emphasised on the need for the children to value their life more than the pieces of sugar cane.

‘’Boys and girls, you only live once. Make the most of your time here on earth.

“As students, you are the future.

“The country can’t afford to lose some of its finest talent because of a piece of sugar cane.

“Be on guard every time when you move on the road. Always use the right side when moving.

“All the road safety rules that you learnt must be observed. You may have a right of way but think about your safety first.

“Be vigilant now that the harvesting period is upon us,’’ added Mr Chapara.

He went on to tabulate the things that a person has to take particular attention to when he/she is using the highway.