509 road accidents reported since the festive began, 32 killed

THIRTY-TWO people have been killed while 247 others were injured in 509 road accidents reported since the festive season began last Thursday.

Police have also impounded 1 116 unroadworthy vehicles countrywide.

Police Spokesperson Superintendent Andrew Phiri yesterday said Harare had the highest number of accidents with 202, most of them said to have been caused by kombi drivers.

This, he said, was one of the reasons why they were not going to stop the joint council and police blitz on kombis and vendors.

"We want to urge people to bear with us during this period and we are not going to stop the operation to decongest the city," Supt Phiri said.

"Most accidents in the city are being caused by commuter omnibus drivers who are reckless."

The operation is aimed at decongesting the CBD.

Kombis without proper documents are not allowed into the city centre, while some are being impounded.

Supt Phiri said no accidents had been recorded in Matabeleland North Province.

He urged people travelling for the Christmas and New Year holidays to ensure their properties are secured.

"They should leave security guards or even a relative at their homes to secure their properties," Supt Phiri said.

He said there were no major crimes of concern recorded so far, except the recent increase in rape cases perpetrated on children. Supt Phiri urged parents and guardians not to leave their children with strangers.

"Parents should ensure that they protect their girl child because of late we have been having an increase in rape cases involving juveniles," he said.

Supt Phiri said other cases which are on the increase are unlawful entry, murder and theft of vehicles.

On murder, he urged people to avoid using secluded areas and that motorists should not leave their keys in the vehicle either when opening gates or when they are not in their cars.

Police recently said they had put in place strategies to ensure a crime-free festive season.

Commissioner-General Augustine Chihuri said as the festive mood grips the country, criminal elements will seek to take advantage of the merrymaking atmosphere to commit various offences.

He said the nation continues to lose precious lives during the festive season as a result of road carnage.

Comm-Gen Chihuri challenged the public transport operators to observe the sanctity of life by ensuring that vehicles were roadworthy.

"In the same vein, I implore all motorists to strictly adhere to traffic rules in order to avoid turning our roads into a traffic jungle," he said.

Secretary for Transport, Communications, and Infrastructural Development  Pattison Mbiriri said Government will strive to make the festive season accident-free.

He urged transporters to adhere to traffic laws and regulations.

 Mbiriri said Government was in the process of reversing State-assisted funerals for accident victims.

Transport operators whose vehicles cause accidents will bear the responsibility to assist relatives burying their victims.

Last year, 92 people were killed while 1 090 others were injured in 1 119 road accidents recorded during the Christmas and New Year holidays.

About 182 drivers were arrested for drunken driving, while 2 909 defective vehicles were impounded.

Most accidents were attributed to speeding, misjudgment, lack of attention and drunken driving.