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Freeman Razemba Crime Reporter
Police have expressed concern over an increase in road accidents countrywide caused by speeding and unlicensed drivers. Police yesterday said 20 139 accidents were recorded this year as of June 5.
Officer Commanding Police National Traffic Unit Felistas Chikowero-Mjanga, yesterday warned speeding motorists that the long arm of the law would descend on them heavily.
She said this while receiving two speed trap machines donated by the Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe (TSCZ) in Harare.
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“I would want to warn those engaged in militant behaviour on our roads, operators who hire irresponsible kombi drivers who don’t respect human life on the roads, unlicensed drivers and those who do not adhere to given speed limits on our roads — not leaving out those who drink and drive — let me just warn you that the long arm of the law will descend upon you heavily,” Snr Asst Comm Chikowero-Mjanga said.
She urged motorists to respect police officers deployed on the roads.
Snr Asst Comm Chikowero-Mjanga said the speed trap machines would go a long way in monitoring speed and enforcing the law on the roads.
“Our relationship with Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe has continued to blossom since it is not the first that time you have shown support of this kind. In the past you have made our operations much easier by donating among other items, vehicles and traffic sleeves to some of our traffic officers,” she said.
She said joint operations they conducted in the past also assisted them in curbing road carnage.
Snr Asst Comm Chikovero-Mjanga said they had been facing various challenges to monitor speed on the roads due to reduced numbers of speed monitoring devices, among other challenges.
TSCZ Mashonaland regional traffic safety manager Mr Jonah Mangami, said during the festive season, out of 2 215 accidents recorded, 642 of them were attributed to speeding.
“As if that is not worrisome enough, in the year 2014 alone, 9 844 out of 41 016 collisions were attributed to speeding. About 94 percent of all traffic collisions be it regionally or globally, are caused by human error,” he said.
He said those found violating traffic rules would be prosecuted.
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