dyton mupawaenda
Africa Moyo-Investigations Editor
In the generally peaceful neighbourhoods of Kuwadzana and Dzivaresekwa, murmurs of concern have transformed into a deafening call for action following numerous road traffic accidents mainly from the Kuwadzana Roundabout up to Kuwadzana Extension turn-off along the Harare-Bulawayo highway.
Pedestrians of all ages have been injured, some killed almost every week by motorists, as they cross the road, going either to Kuwadzana or Dzivaresekwa.
Vehicles have also crashed into each other, either as they turn into Dzivaresekwa, or along the Harare-Bulawayo Road going either to the city centre or towards Norton.
Last Thursday night, a tragic accident occurred around 9pm, involving a DAF truck, a Nissan NV200, a kombi, and another small car, resulting in the death of three people, seriously injuring four. This ignited outrage and despair among residents of the two suburbs.
When The Herald visited the scene, witnesses reported that the DAF truck, reportedly speeding towards the Harare city centre, failed to reduce speed at the Dzivarasekwa traffic lights turn-off. It then rammed into the back of the Nissan NV200, which had stopped at the red light.
The aftermath was catastrophic; three people died on the spot, while four others were rushed to the hospital with serious injuries.
One woman in the Nissan NV200, was trapped for long, as residents struggled to extricate her from the wreckage. It only took the arrival of emergency service providers to free the woman. She was immediately ferried to hospital.
In the wake of this tragedy, frustration boiled over as some residents, overcome by grief and anger, looted washing powder from the DAF truck that had caused the accident.
“This is not just about one accident; it is about our lives and the safety of our children,” said Ms Alice Mazekwa, a concerned resident of Dzivaresekwa Phase 3. She called for speed humps along the stretch from Kuwadzana Roundabout to the Kuwadzana Extension turn-off, an area notorious for high-speed traffic.
The speed limit on the stretch is 70km per hour and previously, traffic police officers trapping speed were stationed there, fining errant motorists.
But they have not been there in years,and motorists know they can get away with it, when they speed.
Ms Mazekwa, along with many others in the community, believes that the construction of speed humps could significantly reduce the risk of such devastating accidents.
“We are requesting the Government to construct speed humps so that vehicles, especially those driving towards Bulawayo, can reduce speed since drivers pass this area at high speed.
“Many people are dying,” she said emphatically.
Her sentiments resonate deeply in a community where children frequently cross the road on their way to school, often risking their lives due to reckless driving.
Mr Andrew Makahamadze, the Zanu PF shadow MP for Southerton, who has previously lived in Dzivaresekwa, said: “It is important to construct speed humps, which will force someone to reduce speed when approaching those intersections.
“Yes, they may give people some frustration, but it will save lives.”
He emphasised the necessity of serious engagement on the sanctity of life, highlighting the loss of breadwinners and promising youths in the community due to road accidents on that stretch of the road.
The issue of reckless driving is compounded by the influence of drugs, pointed Mr Makahamadze, and called on authorities to fight the drugs and substances scourge.
“People are driving under the influence of drugs, and that causes those accidents,” he warned, calling for enhanced enforcement of road safety regulations.
He also noted that many motorists fail to adhere to the Highway Code, which requires drivers to stop a minimum of seven metres from the corner.
“These days we see drivers stopping right by the corner, endangering the lives of the driver and passengers,” he lamented.
Community leaders are not just calling for speed humps; they are advocating for a more robust law enforcement presence in the area.
Mr Naison Vare, a religious leader from Dzivaresekwa 2, suggested that if police and municipal officers could be stationed at key intersections, particularly during power outages, it might deter reckless driving.
“If drivers know that they are likely to find police officers there, we will have many of them reducing speed to avoid problems with law enforcement agents,” he stated.
This collective frustration and fear have united the residents of Kuwadzana and Dzivaresekwa in their push for immediate action.
“Without those humps like those put on the road that cuts across Dzivaresekwa up to Sanganayi, we will continue to witness fatal accidents,” Mr Gabriel Mwale from Kuwadzana Phase 3 warned, emphasising the urgent need for safety measures.
As the community grapples with the aftermath of the tragic accident, the calls for speed humps reverberate louder than ever.
“It is something that needs to be taken seriously,” Mr Makahamadze insisted, urging local authorities to prioritise road safety initiatives.
He also called on the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development and police to deploy technology on the roads, as proposed by President Mnangagwa recently, so that violators of traffic regulations can be pursued and brought to book.
The residents are now looking toward the Government for a solution that will protect their lives and restore a sense of safety on the roads they traverse on daily.
In the days following the accident, the sombre reality of loss continues to weigh heavily on the community.
The voices of the residents—echoing their grief and determination—serve as a stark reminder that change is not just desired; it is desperately needed.
As they push for speed humps and better enforcement of traffic laws, one thing is clear: the time for action is now. National police spokesperson, Commissioner Paul Nyathi, has called on motorists to exercise extreme caution on the road to save lives.
Since January, over 50 lives have already been lost on the roads, 25 of them from a horror crash near Beitbridge in February.
Online Reporter