The ManicaPost
Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
GOVERNMENT will be getting tough on reckless drivers by imposing heavy penalties on them as well as rolling out a programme to improve signage on major roads across the country, a Cabinet Minister has said.
Transport and Infrustructural Development Minister Honourable Felix Mhona said this on the sidelines of a tour of the site where a Beta Bus collided with a Harare-bound fuel tanker last Friday.
Six people have since died from the horror accident which saw the two vehicles bursting into flames.
In an interview on the sidelines of the tour, Minister of State for Manicaland and Devolution Honourable Nokuthula Matsikenyere confirmed that another victim who had been admitted to Victoria Chitepo Hospital succumbed to injuries sustained in the accident.
“It is sad that we continue losing precious lives owing to road accidents. I have just been briefed that one more person died at Victoria Chitepo Provincial Hospital today (Thursday), bringing the number of deceased persons after this accident to six. We continue extending our heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families,” said Minister Matsikenyere.
Minister Mhona said: “We are deeply concerned with the increasing road accidents. We continue to lose lives needlessly. This is the reason why Government will soon be putting in place heavy penalties for those found on the wrong side of the law after road accidents. This will also apply to reckless drivers who might not necessarily have been involved in an accident.
“We just have to make sure that from now on reckless drivers pay heavily for their wrong deeds. We surely cannot continue losing lives in ways that can be avoided.
“We are also aware as a ministry that the signage in our roads is not what it should be. The same applies for this road up to Christmas Pass. Therefore, we will make it a priority to ensure that we resuscitate signage on our roads. This might also go a long way in addressing challenges that our motorists are facing on the roads.”
In the first 10 months of this year, 1 475 people were killed, while 6 614 were injured in 35 727 road traffic accidents, despite two Level Four lockdowns and a curfew every night, both sharply limiting driving.
Recently, Minister Mhona told a media conference in Harare that an average of five people die on the roads each day, translating to plus or minus 2 000 deaths annually.
He said the period between December 15 this year and January 15 next year marks the festive season, a time when there is normally an increase in road traffic deaths and injuries.
“This is so because of increased vehicular and pedestrian traffic. You may recall that during the period December 15 2019 to January 15 2020, a total of 3 668 road traffic accidents were recorded, with 186 people killed and 722 injured during that festive season.
“As we are in another festive period. We need to take stock of what happened in the year 2020 and avoid a replica of such unpleasant statistics,” he said.
One of the Beta Bus accident survivors, Mr Seth Nehara of Dangamvura, who has since been discharged from Victoria Chitepo Hospital, attributed the accident to speeding.
“I boarded the bus in Marondera and the driver was speeding. The accident could have been avoided if the driver had applied his defensive driving skills because he swerved into the lane of the oncoming tanker while trying to avoid hitting a pedestrian who was on the road.
“I want to thank everyone who helped in saving lives, especially a truck driver, Mr Sirizani Butau who sustained burns while trying to save the trapped people in the tanker. He is a hero and people should emulate his heroics than to stop at accident scenes to take photos and videos,” said Mr Nehara.
President Mnangagwa also saluted Mr Butau’s heroics and sacrifices after he saved the lives of eight people during the accident.
President Mnangagwa applauded Mr Butau’s heroism during the National Thanksgiving and Dedication Service at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) grounds on Boxing Day last Sunday.
“Let me take this opportunity to appreciate Mr Sirizani Butau who saved people from the Mutare accident. As Government, we will honour him for his selfless sacrifice,” said President Mnangagwa.
