47 people killed in 599 accidents countrywide

The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) say 47 people have been killed and 264 others injured in 599 recorded accidents countrywide since the start of the festive season on December 15.

ZRP national spokesperson Chief Superintendent Paul Nyathi yesterday said during the same period last year 97 people were killed while 500 others were injured in 660 accidents recorded.

"Eight hundred and seventy-six vehicles have been impounded for various defects, and police have issued 56,928 tickets to motorists for various traffic offences," he said.

Chief Supt Nyathi said the major causes of accidents were speeding, overtaking errors, inattention, misjudgement and failing to give way among others.

He said Masvingo has the highest number of deaths so far (14), followed by Manicaland (seven) and Harare (five).  Mashonaland East and Matabelelend South and Mashonaland West recorded four deaths each.

Three deaths were recorded each for Mashonaland Central and Matabeleland North.  No road traffic accident deaths have been recorded in Bulawayo to date.

The Christmas and New Year holidays are usually associated with a high number of road accidents.  Chief Supt Nyathi urged motorists, particularly public transport operators, to abide by the road rules and exercise extreme caution on the roads.

He warned public transport operators not to overload vehicles and to put the safety of the people first.  Chief Supt Nyathi said they would continue manning roadblocks in the country's major roads.

Last week, Police Commissioner-General Augustine Chihuri said motorists and public transport operators who break road traffic rules and regulations would be severely punished, has said.

Speaking at a pass out parade for 507 recruits at Morris Depot in Harare, Comm-Gen Chihuri said it was worrisome that the country continued to lose many lives to road carnage.

Last year, more than 200 people died while close to 1,000 others were injured in road accidents during the festive season, a two-week period that usually witnesses a huge number of traffic fatalities.