By Staff Reporter
The Zimbabwe national police spokesperson has expressed concerns over the increasing number of fatal road traffic accidents in the country, with human error cited as the main cause.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, national police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi noted that a significant number of accidents recorded during the Easter holiday have been attributed to speeding, inattention, misjudgment, and failure to observe road rules and regulations by drivers.
“It is disturbing to note that some of the accidents recorded during the period are attributed to human error, which includes speeding, inattention, misjudgment, and failure to observe road rules and regulations, by drivers. Most fatal road traffic accidents recorded occurred during the night when travelers were moving in numbers with vehicles overloaded, mixing goods and passengers, in the process ignoring safety measures,” said Assistant Commissioner Nyathi
As Zimbabwe prepares to commemorate Independence Day on 18th April 2023, the police spokesperson has implored all motorists to be responsible on the roads and lead by example when it comes to road safety.
“As the country prepares to commemorate Independence Day on 18th April 2023, the Zimbabwe Republic Police implores all motorists to be responsible on the roads and lead by example when it comes to road safety. Let us all play our part to make roads safe and not death traps, above all drivers, should comply with all road rules and regulations in order to safeguard lives,” he said.
This comes after a spate of fatal accidents occurred in the past week, resulting in the loss of several lives and leaving many others injured. One of the accidents involved a Toyota Caravan kombi colliding with a minibus along the Harare-Masvingo Highway, resulting in the death of ten people and 31 others injured.
In another incident along the Mvuma-Gweru Road, a Mercedes Benz Sprinter with 24 passengers on board side-swiped with a UD truck carrying 31 passengers. Six people died in the accident, while five others were injured.
The truck driver, who did not stop after the accident, was later involved in another accident at the 192-kilometre peg along the Harare-Masvingo Road, which resulted in the injury of three passengers who were in the truck.
Assistant Commissioner Nyathi also revealed that on the same night, a Honda Fit vehicle with four occupants on board veered off the road and landed beneath a bridge at the 213-kilometre peg along the Harare-Masvingo Road. Two people died, while two others were injured.
