adminVictor Maphosa Mash East Correspondent
chairman of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Transport and Infrastructural Development Mr Daniel Garwe has called on public transport operators to respect the sanctity of human life by adhering to road rules and regulations this holiday.
In an interview with The Herald soon after the Harare-Nyamapanda Road accident, Mr Garwe said stringent measures must be instituted urgently to curb road accidents which had claimed many lives.
“As the Government, we must immediately put watertight measures in the whole transport system so that we stop these unnecessary deaths,” he said.
“Drivers of public transport are no longer respecting human life. We have noted with concern that 95 percent of road accidents are due to human error.
“We have heard that there are some buses and Toyota Wishes that take two hours and a few minutes to travel from Harare to Mutare, which shows that they will be travelling at excessive speed and in most instances they will be overloaded. This is totally wrong and should stop,” he said.
He said the age limit for public transport drivers should be raised from 25 years to at least 35 years to ensure that only mature and composed drivers drive public vehicles.
“We need to adjust and peg the age limit for all public transport drivers at 35. Those below that age must not be allowed near a bus or a kombi. We should also reintroduce Highway Patrols, speed detectors and breathalysers to flush out drunken drivers,” he said.
“I am worried that the police are letting most unroadworthy public transport to pass through roadblocks,” he said.
He urged road users to avoid using second-hand tyres and always exercise extreme caution during the rainy season.
Meanwhile, the Minister of State for Mashonaland East Provincial Affairs, Honourable Apolonia Munzverengi has appealed to all road users in Mashonaland East and the nation at large to exercise caution on the roads.
In a statement, Minister Munzverengi said unnecessary loss of life through road accidents can be avoided if all road users exercised caution and care.
“This is an appeal to all road users, drivers, cyclists and pedestrians included, to be alert this festive season and beyond,” she said.
“We have had reports of very disturbing road accidents, the latest being the Juru accident that claimed 17 lives involving two commuter omnibuses that collided head-on.
“May all road users exercise extreme caution and care in order to avoid unnecessary loss of lives. Most accidents are a result of human error, speeding, drinking and driving, using unroadworthy vehicles and overloading,” she said.
Minister Munzverengi also appealed to the Zimbabwe Republic Police to enforce road traffic rules.
“My other appeal also goes to the ZRP Traffic Section to ensure that they remain vigilant and enforce road traffic rules and regulations as specified to ensure that life is protected,” she said.
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