Triumvirate rolls out safety campaign

Yeukai Karengezeka Herald Correspondent
The Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe (TSCZ), the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP and the Traffic Crime Consultative Committee have embarked on a three-day safety awareness campaign at commuter omnibus ranks to reduce accidents during the Easter holiday.

The awareness campaign, which began on Monday, is targeting passengers, commuter omnibus operators and their crews.

Other stakeholders who are part of the campaign are Chitungwiza Municipality and the Vehicle Inspection Department (VID).

Chitungwiza Traffic Crime Consultative Committee chairperson Mr Timothy Goche, who is also Citimed Hospital general manager, said they were hoping for positive impact.

“We decided to have this awareness campaign because most accidents occur before, during and after the Easter Holiday,” he said.

“We are visiting different ranks and speaking to commuter omnibus drivers on the need to observe road rules to avoid accidents and loss of lives.

“Many drivers have shown interest and promised to observe all traffic rules in accordance with our theme ‘Safety First’ for both the vehicle and the passengers.”

Chitungwiza Municipality traffic chief inspector Mr Christopher Tsuro said most commuter omnibus drivers were reckless.

“We have noted with concern that most drivers stop anywhere to pick passengers, they overload and some of them drive without licences and such elements jeopardise the lives of the passengers,” he said.

“During holidays, more municipal police officers should be dispatched to monitor the situation, but our traffic department is incapacitated.”

In an interview, commuter bus operator Mrs Evelyn Rice said they were playing their part by ensuring that their vehicles were well serviced and have all the requirements.

The chairman of pirate taxis that ply the Makoni-Ziko route, Mr Amon Jambwa, said they were very particular about drivers who ply their route.

“I have been operating here at Makoni for over 10 years and one of things we do is to ensure that passengers are safe,” he said.

“We vet drivers and bar those that are drunk or do not have drivers licences from operating on our route.”