Online Reporter
Freeman Razemba
Senior Reporter
THE Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe, in conjunction with the police, is conducting pedestrian safety awareness campaigns in and around the city aimed at promoting road safety awareness, encouraging responsible road use, and enhancing pedestrian safety among members of the public.
These campaigns are also being held in collaboration with various key stakeholders who include the Insurance Council of Zimbabwe (ICZ), Discovery Ambulance Services, ConCERT, Zimbabwe union of Drivers and Conductors (ZUDAC) and Zimbabwe United Deregulated Commuter Operators (ZUDCO), among others.
This development comes after the Zimbabwe National Road Administration (ZINARA) and the Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe (TSCZ) conducted a pedestrian crossing points campaign and repainting programme in Bulawayo last week, aimed at improving road safety around schools and protecting vulnerable road users.
The initiative comes amid growing concern over the increasing number of pedestrians being killed or injured in hit-and-run accidents across the country.
The Government recently urged motorists to exercise greater caution when approaching pedestrian crossing points and has acquired specialised equipment to repaint zebra crossings nationwide as part of efforts to reduce road traffic fatalities.
According to police statistics, 2 081 pedestrians were killed or injured in hit-and-run accidents between January and March this year, up from 1 905 cases recorded during the same period last year.
Schoolchildren, pedestrians crossing traffic-controlled intersections, as well as people walking along roadsides and pavements, account for the majority of victims.
The increase in casualties has prompted authorities to intensify road safety interventions, including the refurbishment and repainting of pedestrian crossing points across the country’s 10 provinces.
This week, the teams conducted such campaigns in Mutare.
“The Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe (TSCZ), working in partnership with ZINARA, carried out a road marking ceremony at Mutare Junior Primary School as part of ongoing initiatives aimed at enhancing pedestrian safety and creating safer roads for all road users.
“The programme brought together key stakeholders in road safety, including representatives from the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development, Mutare City Council, and the Zimbabwe Republic Police,” TSCZ said.
“Teachers and learners from Mutare Junior Primary School also took part, demonstrating the shared responsibility required to promote safe road use and protect vulnerable road users.”
The council said that through collaborative action and sustained road safety initiatives, they remain committed to building a safer road environment where every pedestrian, learner, motorist, and cyclist can travel with greater confidence and security.
“To date, pedestrian crossings in Manicaland have been painted in Mutare, Chipinge and Nyanga.”
