Call to complete markings along Harare-Bulawayo Highway

KADOMA residents have called on Government and the contractor who upgraded the Harare-Bulawayo Highway to put road carriage markings such as zebra crossings on portions of the highway within the city to protect the lives of pedestrians.

This follows several incidents in which pedestrians, especially school children, have been knocked down by cars as there are no zebra crossing markings near schools such as Waverly Secondary and Lady Tait.

Speaking to The Herald, Kadoma Junior Council Mayor Miss Ashely Nyamakupe said they had since approached Government over the issue.

"We wrote a letter to the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development, alerting them of the urgent need to put zebra crossings along the Harare-Bulawayo Highway for the safety of children," she said.

"The markings were there before the road was upgraded, but they have not been redrawn since the completion of the project. Last year, a pupil was hit by a car and died on the spot. We believe if the lines are visible, then motorist will exercise caution when approaching such crossings."

Miss Nyamukupe said the situation demanded urgent attention and she implored drivers to observe road regulations. Kadoma City Council said it had no mandate to put in the road markings as the highway was managed by the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development.

Meanwhile, Miss Nyamukupe also called on council to build a new library to complement the existing one.

"To reduce crime among youths, council should assist in the construction of new libraries. Currently there is only one functional library, while the other one is more like a museum because of the state and nature of material," she said.

"Children need to spend more time seeking knowledge and if they do not have those facilities, they end up taking drugs and committing other crimes."