Zim GBC News | Harare Correspondent
RUSAPE – Tragedy struck on the Harare–Mutare highway on Sunday night when a speeding bus struck and killed a pedestrian before overturning, leaving 18 passengers injured.
The incident has reignited concerns about reckless driving on the country’s major highways, just weeks before the government rolls out a new AI-powered traffic management system aimed at curbing such behaviour.
The accident occurred around 11 PM near Reeb Business Centre. Reports indicate that a Mutare-bound General Bande bus, carrying 65 passengers, hit a man who was walking in the middle of the road.
According to witnesses at the scene, the bus was travelling at high speed. The force of the impact caused the vehicle to veer off the carriageway and roll several times before coming to rest on its side.
Medical Superintendent of Rusape General Hospital, Dr. Stewart Karembo, confirmed the fatalities and the scale of the injuries.
“One person died at the scene,” Dr. Karembo stated.
“We received a number of patients with varying degrees of injury. Four passengers sustained serious injuries and were subsequently transferred to Victoria Chitepo Provincial Hospital in Mutare for specialist care. A further 14 passengers remain admitted here at Rusape General Hospital receiving treatment for their injuries.”
Dr. Karembo added that the remaining passengers were assessed at the facility and later discharged.
The deceased pedestrian, believed by authorities to have been under the influence of alcohol, has not yet been identified pending notification of his family. The bus itself reportedly sustained only minor damage in the rollover.
AI CAMERAS TO TARGET DANGEROUS DRIVING
This fatal crash comes as authorities prepare to deploy advanced technology to tackle the very issues that contributed to this tragedy. Starting next month, Zimbabwe will activate AI-powered traffic cameras at 20 sites in Harare as part of a high-tech traffic management system designed to curb speeding and other dangerous driving behaviours.
The system, which will later be rolled out to other cities including Bulawayo, is expected to act as a significant deterrent for commercial and private drivers alike. By automating the detection of violations such as speeding and red-light infractions, the technology aims to reduce the kind of reckless driving that led to the bus overturning on Sunday night, potentially preventing future tragedies on accident-prone routes like the Harare–Mutare highway.
Key Features Of The System:
· AI-embedded traffic cameras will detect various traffic violations, including red-light violations and speeding.
· Automated e-ticketing platform will notify offending drivers and facilitate payment of fines with minimal human involvement.
· Integration with Central Vehicle Registry (CVR) and automatic number-plate recognition technology for real-time vehicle owner identification.
· Speed detection cameras will be deployed in accident-prone areas to measure vehicle speed and flag motorists who breach prescribed limits.
Authorities are continuing their investigations into the incident, which serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for enhanced road safety measures.
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