Online Reporter
Harmony Agere
WITH schools reopening for the third term today, Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Felix Mhona has urged motorists to exercise extreme caution on the roads to prevent unnecessary tragedies.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, Minister Mhona said the start of the school term usually comes with increased travel, particularly involving learners, and called on all road users, especially those in the school transport sector, to prioritise safety.
“Every year, Zimbabwe loses approximately 2 000 lives to road crashes and around 8 600 people are injured,” he said.
“On average, that’s 153 lives lost every month, or five lives and 24 injuries daily. These are preventable tragedies.”
Minister Mhona highlighted that many accidents are linked to unroadworthy vehicles and urged public service operators and private motorists to conduct regular maintenance checks.
He also warned against overloading, speeding and driving under the influence of alcohol, calling them major contributors to road carnage.
“Drivers must adhere strictly to speed limits and avoid embarking on lengthy journeys without proper rest. Fatigue is a silent killer,” the minister said.
To support these safety measures, the Zimbabwe Republic Police and the Vehicle Inspectorate Department will intensify joint enforcement operations during the back-to-school period.
Minister Mhona said the responsibility to save lives lies not only with transport operators but with all citizens, encouraging vigilance and strict adherence to traffic laws.
“I sincerely hope that, by remaining cautious and observant of all road regulations, we can make this school term accident-free,” he said.
Online Reporter