Online Reporter
Sikhumbuzo Moyo
ROAD traffic accidents are costing the nation close to half a billion United States dollars annually amid revelations that Zimbabwe is now the second-highest country in road accident fatalities after Dominican Republic.
The staggering human and economic loss has led to calls by legislatures for the country’s vehicle and traffic regulatory agencies, the Vehicle Inspectorate Department (VID), Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe (TSCZ) and the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) traffic section to come up with robust systems to reduce road carnages.
Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Transport and Infrastructural Development, Cde Pupurai Togarepi, in his report to parliament on his committee’s findings in the inquiries on road carnage, road traffic accidents in the country are the third leading cause of death after HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis.
He said road accidents are among the leading causes of death globally, with approximately 1.19 million fatalities occurring annually and the burden of traffic crashes is disproportionately borne by low and middle-income countries, which account for 92 percent the fatalities despite having only about 60 percent of the world’s vehicles.
“Zimbabwe exemplifies this trend, ranking as the second-highest country in road accident fatalities, with 41 deaths per 100 000 people. Beyond the human toll, the economic consequences are staggering, with road traffic crashes costing the nation an estimated US$400 million annually, an amount equivalent to a significant percentage of the country’s Gross Domestic Product,” said Cde Togarepi. He revealed that on average, more than 2 000 people die annually, while over 30 000 are injured, many of whom suffer lifelong disabilities.
He said the economic costs, including healthcare expenditures, loss of productivity, vehicle damage and infrastructure repair, are estimated to be three percent of Zimbabwe’s GDP.
“Ending road carnages is therefore both a developmental and humanitarian priority,” said Cde Togarepi.
