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Conrad Mupesa–Mashonaland West Bureau
A HAULAGE truck from Zambia heading towards Harare yesterday caused traffic delays at Mulichi Business Centre, some 15 kilometres from Karoi, after it jack-knifed near a bridge.
The incident saw hundreds of vehicles in both directions being held up in a gridlock that lasted for over five hours.
Drivers of smaller vehicles by-passed the traffic jam by driving through a nearby field for almost 3km.
Social media reports yesterday falsely claimed a fatal road accident pitting two haulage trucks had occurred.
The truck that jack-knifed had been removed from the scene by 1pm.
Acting Mashonaland West provincial police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Ian Kohwera poured cold water on the claims of a fatal road accident before encouraging social media users to relay messages that are factually correct so as not to cause unnecessary panic.
“There was never a fatal road accident that occurred along Harare-Chirundu Highway near Mulichi Bridge. Reports that we gathered from our officers show that there was a truck that had jack-knifed near the area. The truck held up traffic from both ends although it was attended to by lunch time,” he said.
One of travellers, Mr Derek Kambanje, who was caught up in the traffic jam, said they were delayed for more than three hours.
“I was in a bus from Zvipani to Harare and we were forced to wait from 10 am until the scene had been cleared. There was no fatal accident, but a truck that had broken down, blocking the road,” he said. It is believed that the driver of the truck was trying to avoid hitting a pothole on the road.
The road is earmarked for upgrade following the successful rehabilitation of Harare-Masvingo-Beitbridge Highway, the southern portion of the main north-south highway, before moving to the northern section from Harare to Chirundu, although a stretch south of Chirundu up the escarpment has already been rebuilt with Japanese assistance.
Contractors are expected to move north soon on the country’s major and busiest road that links Zimbabwe with South Africa, Mozambique, Zambia, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Tanzania.
Online Reporter