Festive season death toll rises to 162

The holiday accident death toll has risen to 162 up from 150 people as of Friday.

This follows another accident which claimed four people in Mashonaland East province and the death of 8 other people in other provinces.

Manicaland province continues to top the list with 33 people killed followed by Mashonaland East province following two major accidents which occurred in Featherstone and Marondera.

Mashonaland Central has the lowest deaths at two people.

Meanwhile, commuter omnibus operators at Mbare Bus Terminus in Harare have called on the police to continue impounding buses and commuter omnibuses which are operating illegally.

The operators say illegal transporters are operating defective buses and are running without route permits.

They attribute the increase in road carnage to an increasing number of buses operating without permits.

There are reports that some cross-boarder operators were taking the Harare-Bulawayo high way and other routes which had more business after realising that there were few people travelling to South Africa during the festive season.
 
Police spokesperson, Superintendent Paul Nyathi said the police have so far impounded 985 buses and vehicles for various offences.
He called on public transport drivers to keep their time tables to avoid inconveniences.

With more than a week before the official close of the festive season, the number of people who were killed in road accidents this year has already surpassed the overall number of people killed last year.

Last year a total of 147 people died, while 1304 others were injured during the festive period.