Heroes, Defence Forces holidays road safety campaign launched

Ivan Zhakata

Herald Correspondent
GOVERNMENT has launched the Heroes and Defence Forces road safety awareness campaign to reduce traffic accidents during the holidays and the upcoming Southern African Development Community (SADC) Summit.
The campaign was launched by the Ministries of Transport and Infrastructural Development, Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage, Harare Provincial Affairs and Devolution, as well as the Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe, the Zimbabwe Republic Police and various other stakeholders in the transport industry.
This year’s campaign is running under the theme ‘Be a road safety hero’.
Speaking at the launch of the campaign in Harare, Minister of State for Harare Metropolitan Provincial Affairs and Devolution Charles Tavengwa said everyone has a role to play in promoting road safety.
“As we gravitate towards a period where we anticipate high volumes of traffic due to the Heroes’ and Defence Forces’ holidays as well as the much anticipated SADC Summit, we must focus on safety on the roads that we use every day,” he said.
‘I would like to express my deepest concern over the road crashes and negligence of drivers, particularly here in Harare. I am informed that the nation is losing an average of six people daily in road accidents.
“It has also become a nightmare to drive in Harare’s CBD due to traffic congestion and the lawlessness of illegal pirate taxis popularly known as mushikashika.
“However, I would like to acknowledge the efforts of the Zimbabwe Public Police, VID and the Traffic Safety Council, among other stakeholders, who have been making strides in encouraging good road usage and enforcing law and order on the roads.”