Innocent Sibonginkosi Ncube
In a proactive measure to enhance road safety during the festive season, law enforcement agencies in Zimbabwe will be heavily deployed at all bus terminuses and along major highways.
This initiative aims to reduce road carnage by ensuring that buses are safe and that drivers possess the necessary documentation before departing from the terminus.
Joint Operations with South Africa
This deployment coincides with a joint operation launched by Zimbabwe and South Africa to address the rising number of fatal road accidents involving cross-border buses and haulage trucks. Officials from both countries recently convened to devise strategies to mitigate the risks associated with road traffic accidents and the transport of dangerous goods.
The Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development Hon. Felix Mhona is also expected to launch the festive season campaign within the next two weeks ahead of the festive season.
“And I am aware from a planning point of view, we will have more than 40 teams that will be on the ground.
“That is, teams will be comprised of ourselves as Traffic Safety Council, but working with the enforcement agencies, that is ZRP, VID and RMT.
“While we will be dealing with the education side of things, there will be actual enforcement this time around on the roads. And we will be checking for the vehicle itself, the road fitness,” he said.
Safety Checks and Awareness Campaigns
Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe (TSCZ) managing director, Mr. Munesu Munodawafa, emphasized that law enforcement will conduct thorough checks on vehicles and driver paperwork, particularly for public service vehicles. He noted that there will be a significant presence of enforcement teams, including the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP), Vehicle Inspection Department (VID), and Road Motor Transport (RMT), working collaboratively to ensure compliance and safety.
In addition to enforcement, awareness campaigns will be conducted along highways and at border posts to educate drivers and the public about road safety.
Munodawafa mentioned that these efforts are part of a broader strategy to improve the efficiency of passenger movement and enhance response capabilities in the event of accidents.
“So for next week, we will have teams from VID, Zimbabwe and RMT working with their counterparts here, together with the Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe, working with their South African counterparts to come up with, let’s say, a dry run of what is likely to be happening around the festive season.
“So it’s a rehearsal, but at the same time it’s practical and it’s meant to improve the efficiency in terms of movement of people, in terms of road safety, but also terms of response in the unlikely event that there is an accident,” he said.
Conclusion
The upcoming festive season will see a comprehensive approach to road safety in Zimbabwe, with increased law enforcement presence and collaborative efforts with South African authorities. By ensuring that vehicles are roadworthy and drivers are properly documented, officials hope to significantly reduce the incidence of road traffic accidents during this busy travel period.
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