WATCH: State-assisted funeral for bus accident victims

ACTING President Constantino Chiwenga yesterday announced that the Government has accorded a State assisted funeral to five accident victims who died in a bus accident along the Harare-Mutare Highway on Wednesday.

The accident involved a Micro-cut Investment truck travelling from Beira to Harare, a Mercedes Benz and Inter Africa bus travelling from Harare to Nyanga-Ruwangwe.

Described by the Acting President as horrendous, the accident left 40 other passengers injured.

In his condolence message, Acting President Chiwenga said the Government in conjunction with the Insurance Council of Zimbabwe will also provide medical assistance for the injured.

“As we express our deepest condolences to the bereaved families, we also wish those receiving treatment a speedy recovery,” said the Acting President.

He called on motorists to exercise a high degree of care on the roads.

“Law enforcement agencies and responsible authorities, including the Zimbabwe Republic Police will ensure that stringent measures are taken to deal with errant drivers along major highways ,” said Acting President Chiwenga.

Meanwhile, Bulawayo province recorded four deaths and 68 injuries from 210 road traffic accidents between December 15 and December 27.

The figure represents 4,3 percent of the number of people who died countrywide during the same period.

Nationally, 92 people died from a total of 1 195 accidents.

In the same period last year, 133 road traffic accidents were recorded with 12 fatal, 20 deaths and 48 people injured.

This was revealed during a Bulawayo provincial traffic awareness campaign dubbed “stakeholders’ meet the motorists’ campaign led by the officer commanding Bulawayo Province, Commissioner Wiklef Makamache at Much Binding along Bulawayo-Gwanda road yesterday.

Comm Makamache was accompanied by the Bulawayo City Council senior traffic officer Mr Ndumiso Ndlovu, Bulawayo fire brigade’s senior division officer for operations, Mr Mhlangene Moyo, Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe (TSCZ) southern region manager Ms Barbra Mpofu and the provincial chief vehicle inspector for Bulawayo Mr Adon Silempa.

During the campaign, the team distributed fliers to motorists, which contained information on safe driving.

“To reduce the number and severity of road traffic accidents, every driver must avoid speeding as it thrills but also kills, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, following too close to motor vehicle driving ahead and overtaking errors and driving under emotions,” read the message on the fliers.

On December 23, a local businessman Mr Mandlenkosi Dube rammed into a bus soon after he had mercilessly strangled and killed his girlfriend following a row over infidelity and money.

The fliers also urged drivers to avoid driving under emotions, driving defective motor vehicles, continuous driving for more than 200km without resting, distractions such as use of cellphones, earphones or headphones as well as overloading and use of light-emitting diode (LED) lights or bar lights which are dazzling.

Deputy Bulawayo police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Nomalanga Msebele said the engagement with the motorists was a success.

She said the motorists showed the zeal to travel and arrive alive by adhering to traffic rules and regulations.

“We met motorists who were driving into and out of Bulawayo. During their journey they are likely to encounter a lot of obstacles such as flooded rivers and we were advising them not to risk crossing flooded water bodies,” she said.

“We also encouraged them not to travel at night and as we get closer to the New Year we urged motorists to exercise caution as well as patience with other motorists.”