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The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has warned motorists to avoid speeding and ensure their vehicles are roadworthy before driving, as a way of averting accidents.
This comes in the wake of an increase in road traffic accidents attributed to speeding and unlicensed drivers. In a statement, national police spokesperson Chief Superintendent Mathew Gunda warned motorists against overloading passengers.
“The Zimbabwe Republic Police would want to warn motorists to travel at safe speeds and ensure that their vehicles are roadworthy before embarking on a journey. We are also urging motorists not to overload passengers. The public is further warned to desist from driving without drivers licences,” he said.
Last Friday, five people died while five others were seriously injured when a Botswana registered Toyota Granvia veered off the road and overturned at the 17km peg along the Bulawayo-Plumtree Highway. The accident occurred at around 11.30pm.
“A Toyota Granvia with Botswana registration number plates was travelling due North along Bulawayo-Plumtree Highway, with 10 passengers on board. On approaching the 17km peg, the vehicle had a rear left tyre burst. The driver lost control of the vehicle which veered off the road to the left, overturned several times and in the process, throwing passengers out of the vehicle before it landed on its wheels,” Chief Supt Gunda said.
He said five passengers sustained serious head injuries and died on the spot while five others were also injured. The bodies of the deceased were taken to United Bulawayo Hospitals mortuary for post mortem while the injured were taken to the same hospital for treatment.
Chief Supt Gunda said the names of the deceased will be announced after their next of kin have been informed. The Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe recently said Harare province accounted for over half of the 42 430 accidents recorded countrywide in 2017 at 23 140.
Midlands and Mashonaland West provinces followed after Harare with 2 621 and 2 511 accidents respectively. Matabeleland North recorded the least number of accidents (870), although the number of deaths increased from 89 in 2016 to 102 in 2017. Overall, the total road accidents at 42 430 last year, represent a 10 percent increase on 38 620 accidents recorded in 2016.
Online Reporter