Govt considering reducing speed limits

THE Government is considering reducing speed limits on highways and major roads, in view of the poor state of the country's roads as a measure to reduce carnage, Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Dr Obert Mpofu said.

Speaking on the sidelines of a graduation ceremony at Ntabazinduna Police Training Depot in Umguza District, Matabeleland North on Thursday last week, Dr Mpofu said a number of options, among them reviewing the driver training curriculum, were being weighed as measures to curb road accidents.

"We are generally concerned about carnage on our roads and the fact that most of the accidents recorded on our major roads are due to human error. Reducing speed limits might be an option as we look at ways of reducing carnage on our roads.

"Like I said most accidents are due to human error, there might be need for us to look at our national driver training programme. The way we train our drivers maybe a causal factor and we may need to review it.

"These are options that we are sharing with our stakeholders as we brainstorm on the measures we can take. We have not decided on any particular remedial action yet," he said.

Dr Mpofu said although the country remained averagely affected by road accidents compared to other countries in the region, it remained worrying that a lot of lives were being lost as a result of the accidents.

According to police statistics, a total of 953 accidents and 86 deaths were recorded from 15 to 31 December last year.

Recently 26 people died when a Pioneer bus reportedly side-swiped a Zupco bus at the 35km peg along the Harare-Nyamapanda Highway.

"If we compare statistics in the region, I think we are averagely affected compared to other countries, although we don't condone any sort of accident. For example South Africa recorded almost 2 000 deaths during the festive season with all the good roads that they have," said Dr Mpofu.

He said after rehabilitating some of the major highways the Government would continue repairing the country's roads, with work to facelift major roads expected to commence soon.

"All our major roads will be rehabilitated in the next month or so. We are looking at engaging partners either on a Build Operate and Transfer arrangement or any form of partnership with the private sector," said Dr Mpofu.

Acting President Emmerson Mnangagwa bemoaned, while officiating the police graduation ceremony, the increase in road carnage especially during public holidays such as Christmas.

"It is exceedingly sad that accidents on our roads continue to claim innocent and precious lives. It is sad to discover that most of these accidents were a result of human error and therefore could have been avoided," he said.

Cde Mnangagwa also expressed sadness at the loss of lives as a result of floods in some parts of the country.

"I, therefore, wish to urge fellow Zimbabweans to exercise extreme caution during this rain season and avoid crossing flooded rivers as this may result in ghastly consequences," he said.

A total of 556 police officers graduated at Ntabazinduna Police Training Depot and out of the total 335 were males while 231 were females.