Grade 1 pupil crashed by a car in Chivhu

Northwood Primary School pupil, Trinity Munenzva (7) was crashed to death by a 'speeding' car as she crossed the busy Harare-Chivhu highway last week.

Masvingo Mirror reported that the incident left her little friends shocked, stunned and speechless as they turned back to see the lifeless body of their classmate sprawling on the tarmac with blood splashed over the tarred road.

What baffled everyone at the scene was that, like many other crossing points along Zimbabwe's Highways, there are no warning signs to alert drivers of a crossing point for school children. There were no Police officers or teachers to assist the children cross one of Zimbabwe's busiest highways.

This is not an isolated case, tens of school children are killed every year along Zimbabwe's Highways and one of the most dangerous is Harare-Beitbridge which barely has the necessary warning road signs.

Munenzva's body was taken to Chivhu General Hospital Mortuary.

ZRP officer-in-charge of traffic in Chivhu, Richard Masiiwa confirmed the accident and acknowledged the absence of the necessary road signs to guide motorists and pedestrians alike. The school head Chengeto Mavhundu said there were 300 pupils at her school which runs from grade one to six. She, however, declined to give further comments.

Masiiwa said their responsibility as the Police force was to alert the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure Development of places and points where crossing and other road signs are necessary.

Masiiwa said school authorities can erect a sign post that informs the public and motorists that there is a school nearby. He also said that in order to reduce accidents of such a kind; the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) in Chivhu can carry out awareness campaigns targeted at both parents and pupils.

Masiiwa said there were also some suggestions for a highway that does not pass through the central business district.

The stretch of road has not just been treacherous to school pupils; adults have not been spared and several are killed almost every year.

Two months ago, an old man was hit by an over speeding car whilst attempting to cross the same road. Allegations are that the car was over speeding to an extent that it stopped at a distance after hitting the pedestrian.

Chikomba District Education officer Ngoni Mujuru expressed concern at the continous danger to life pose by that stretch of road.

He said that his department has already started working on the problem and has sent an application to the Ministry of Transport for them to establish a pedestrian crossing point for the pupils. Another letter has also been sent to the Police with a request to provide police details to assist crossing children.

The headmistress of Northwood has also been requested to provide a staff member who can assist infants to cross the road when they finish school at midday. He said the school used to assign a general hand to assist infants cross the road but now they have asked them to provide a staff member.