Online Reporter
Freeman Razemba
Senior Reporter
PEDESTRIANS and cyclists have been urged to use designated cycle tracks and footpaths at the Trabablas Interchange to avoid being hit and run by speeding motorists.
Last Friday, President Mnangagwa commissioned Trabablas Interchange and the structure, located at the intersection of Simon Mazorodze, Chitungwiza and High Glen roads, is a key infrastructure development aimed at alleviating traffic congestion in southern Harare.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development, Engineer Joey Makumbe, said the contractor had constructed footpaths and cycle tracks that other road users should use.
“We recently witnessed the commissioning of the Trabablas Interchange by His Excellency Cde Dr ED Mnangagwa and what it basically means anytime from now it is going to be alive, so we are now going to have the interchange open to traffic. When we talk about this interchange, we are talking about an area where there is high speed and traffic going in opposite directions, some going up, some going down, some going under and some going on top and it is not interchange for people.
“Alongside the interchange they are footpaths that the contractor has constructed, which are either to be used by locals or people who are in transit and they can use those foot paths to move from point A to point B and also to go to their houses. So they should not walk or ride or sit in the interchange because vehicles there have high speeds and they don’t expect to find people along the roads. So to reduce accidents we are encouraging people to use those foot paths,” she said.
Eng Makumbe said the Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe will soon be conducting awareness campaigns aimed at educating people on how best they can use the interchange.
“And what we have done as the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development, we have engaged the Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe. They are going to be doing some awareness programmes, to educate people on what an interchange is and how they can best use it. Because I know it’s the first interchange in Zimbabwe, so we are really not used to understand how we can use it. So there will be awareness programmes that will be conducted and I want to encourage everyone to avail themselves to learn so that we minimise injuries and deaths,” she said.
Zimbabwe Builders Contractors Association (ZBCA) chief executive officer Ms Joyline Zindanga also said, “I want to implore the motorists to adhere to speed limits and observe road signs to reduce road traffic carnage. Our government took the initiative to construct the new Trabablas Interchange which is a historic monument to us and I want to continue to encourage pedestrians to use those designated pedestrians walk ways and desist from using motor ways.
“Its key for pedestrians to also wear reflective clothing at night so that they are visible to motorists and also to encourage pedestrians to use designated crossing areas such as those pedestrian crossings for their own safety.”
Recently, the Traffic Safety Council and ZBCA Women’s Desk, embarked on traffic safety awareness campaigns countrywide aimed at prioritising road safety and reducing road accidents.
