Chronicle Editor
Editor – We join the families of the victims who perished in the Murehwa road accident and the nation at large in mourning.
We wish those who were injured a speedy recovery.
The loss of 17 lives, when two kombis had a head on collision, after one of them experienced a tyre burst at the 49-kilometre peg along the Harare-Nyamapanda highway two km from Juru Growth Point on 16 December, was avoidable
As Passengers’ Association of Zimbabwe (PAZ) we call upon Government to act decisively on the ban on second hand tyres and they should also ensure that as a nation we are able to manufacture affordable tyres that suit our climate and road conditions.
This implies that Government must actively help resuscitate the manufacturing of tyres in Bulawayo by Apollo formerly Dunlop.
As PAZ we note that the blame continues to be fully put on the shoulders of the driver. In the case of this accident we note that there was a tyre burst.
Commuter omnibus owners must consistently ensure that their vehicles are fit for the road so that a mechanical fault or tyre burst should not be a contributory factor.
Commuter omnibus operators must also desist from giving kombi crews targets that are very difficult to meet, which leads to overloading and over speeding.
Government must ensure that only conventional buses get to operate on highways, that is, long distance routes.
We also lobby for an increase in the amount of compensation that is given to road accident victims through the passenger liability cover being managed by the Insurance Council of Zimbabwe.
Funerals are now very expensive affairs and the cost of transport and food are very high.
We request that police and VID should work around the clock on our highways during this festive season so as to prevent further loss of life and injuries due to road carnage.
Passenger Association of Zimbabwe
derick.khumalo