Online Reporter
Ivan Zhakata
Herald Correspondent
PERMANENT Secretary in the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Mr Nick Mangwana, has called for urgent reforms in the way road traffic accidents are reported.
He said graphic and insensitive coverage was inflicting further trauma on victims and families.
Speaking at the launch of the Nyasha Mangaba Foundation in Harare on Friday last week, Mr Mangwana said the spread of unverified and distressing images on social media had become a national concern, adding that the Government was tightening communication guidelines to curb harmful reportage.
“No family should wake up to the shock of seeing their loved one’s final moments plastered across social media,” he said.
“We are pushing for ethical communication, dignity for victims and the protection of families’ emotional well-being.”
Mr Mangwana said the ministry was working closely with media houses to promote responsible reporting of road accidents and ensure that families are protected during moments of crisis.
He called for stronger enforcement on roadworthiness, improved road signage and markings, and reinstatement of dysfunctional traffic lights across the country.
“Prevention is always better than cure,” he said.
“Ensuring roadworthy vehicles, strengthening police presence and educating communities on safety culture are critical steps in reducing the loss of life.”
The event marked the official launch of the Nyasha Mangaba Foundation, an organisation dedicated to supporting accident survivors, bereaved families and first responders through psychological counselling, trauma debriefing and community outreach.
Foundation founder Ms Nyasha Mangaba said road accidents were leaving deep emotional scars that rarely receive attention, despite becoming a daily reality for many families.
“Every accident is more than a statistic. It is a mother who never makes it home, a child whose laughter suddenly disappears and a first responder who carries images they can never unsee,” she said.
Ms Mangaba said the foundation would prioritise free psychological counselling for victims and families, trauma debriefing for first responders and a 24-hour emotional support hotline.
“We ask our media colleagues for partnership and compassion,” she said.
“A mother should not discover her child’s death from a stranger’s WhatsApp status. This is not information — this is trauma.”
She said poor infrastructure remained a major contributor to fatal accidents and called for urgent attention to potholes, missing road signs, non-functional traffic lights and inadequate street lighting.
The foundation also pledged to support awareness campaigns on responsible driving and partner with law enforcement to promote stricter roadside checks and removal of unfit vehicles.
The launch attracted Government officials, representatives from the corporate sector and civil society groups, all urged to support the organisation’s mission to strengthen trauma care and promote safer roads across Zimbabwe.
