HARARE – At least 30 people were killed in 288 countrywide road traffic accidents recorded over the just ended Easter holiday, police have said.
According to statistics released by the Zimbabwe Republic Police, a total 153 people were also injured in the accidents which took place between last Friday and Monday.
In one of the accidents Friday morning, 10 people were killed while 31 others were injured along the Harare-Masvingo road when a Caravan commuter omnibus collided with a minibus.
In another fatal accident Sunday night, six died while five others were injured when a sprinter carrying 24 passengers side-swiped a truck with 31 on board along the Mvuma-Gweru road.
The truck driver did not stop after the accident and was involved in another accident along Harare-Masvingo road resulting in the injury of three passengers who were in the truck.
During the comparative period last year, 73 deaths were recorded while 202 people were injured in 264 road traffic accidents.
National police spokesperson Paul Nyathi said it was disturbing that most of the fatal road traffic accidents were recorded at night.
“It is disturbing to note that some of the accidents recorded during the period are attributed to human error, which includes speeding, inattention, misjudgment, and failure to observe road rules and regulations by drivers.
“Most fatal road traffic accidents recorded occurred during the night where travellers were moving in numbers with vehicles overloaded, mixing goods and passengers, in the process ignoring safety measures,” said Nyathi.
Nyathi urged caution along the roads, adding, “Let us all play our part to make roads safe and not death traps, above all drivers should comply with all road rules and regulations in order to safeguard lives.”
According to the World Health Organisation road safety performance report of 2021, at least five people die in road traffic accidents in Zimbabwe every day, making the country’s roads the most dangerous in the region.
