Govt withdraws State-assisted funerals for accident victims

Zimbabwe govt has withdrawn State-assisted funerals for accident victims, passing the responsibility to transport operators and those responsible for the accidents.

In the past, the Government used to provide assistance to families of people who perish in road accidents.

But Secretary for Transport, Communications and Infrastructural Development Mr Pattison Mbiriri, speaking ahead of the festive season that is usually characterised by bloody accidents, yesterday said Government was in the process of reversing State-assisted funerals for accident victims.

Mr Mbiriri said this to stakeholders in the transport sector, among them the Passenger Transport Organisation and commuter omnibus associations in Harare.

"The reality now is that it may not be possible for Government to carry out the financial burden and the obligation would be on you (transport operators)," he said.

"But how many of you are in a position to carry the financial burden?"
Mr Mbiriri said traffic offenders usually die or will be in intensive care units, making it difficult for them to carry the financial burden.

He said Government was concerned with the loss of lives during holidays, which record increases in road traffic accidents.

Most of the accidents have been declared national disasters.
Mr Mbiriri said human error was the major contributing factor manifest in speeding, reckless driving, drunken driving and use of ineligible drivers who do not meet the age limits and/or lack the necessary experience.
"A public transport operator who has been issued with an operator's licence and route authority has obligations to meet," he said.

"He or she is obliged to provide services as authorised by his route authority in terms of timetables and fare-tables."

Mr Mbiriri said any operator who violates the conditions of route authority, puts the operating licence at risk.

Some of the offences, he said, might result in cancellation of the licence.

The offences include overloading, violating timetables, overworking drivers for profits, unroadworthy buses, failure to use the stipulated triangle signs in breakdowns and failure to stick to the fare charges as stipulated on the fare tables.

"In addition, those who drive under the influence of alcohol are putting their passengers at risk and this ministry would not hesitate to revoke any driver's licences which are abused," he said.

Mr Mbiriri said the Government had noted that public transporters were guilty of speeding during holidays.

He urged operators to instruct drivers to desist from such activities.

"I urge you (transport operators) to go and advise your members and drivers that the law enforcement agencies will be in full force and any adverse reports from enforcement agencies to my ministry will result in appropriate action being taken on your operators' licences," Mr Mbiriri said.

He said the Government will strive to make the festive season accident-free, while transporters will adhere to all traffic laws and regulations.

"Our intention is to work with you. We want to see an improvement on our roads," he said.