The horrific road accidents that claimed the lives of at least 27 people and seriously injured scores of others on our roads in the past three weeks must jolt the government into abandoning its business-as-usual approach in the face of mounting disasters that could otherwise be avoided.
As the Easter holiday approaches, drivers need to do some introspection before embarking on highway trips and vehicles, particularly in public transport, need to be inspected thoroughly before they are dispatched.
One of the most common causes of road accidents is human error, which may be attributed to fatigue, speeding, overloading or drunk-driving. The other major cause of accidents is road unworthiness of vehicles.
Such causes of fatal accidents can be eliminated or avoided if our government, through the police, the Vehicle Inspection Department and other enforcement agents take the issue of road carnage more seriously.
It is a given that almost all the vehicles that eventually get involved in these accidents would have passed through many police roadblocks and may not have been stopped for check ups or would have been allowed to proceed after the police receive bribes.
It brings to question the usefulness of the litany of police roadblocks on the country’s highways when drivers and vehicles that are not fit to be on the road pass freely.
An effective policing system should be able to stem the tide of such deadly traffic accidents.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police must thoroughly investigate causes of accidents and take appropriate action, including bringing to account corrupt police personnel manning roadblocks.
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The VID should also provide proof that the vehicles were fit enough to be on the road that day as it is their duty to do so.
We say so because corruption has become endemic at these state institutions charged with the mandate to ensure the safety of travellers on the roads. Public service transport owners and their drivers are allowed to get away with murder, literally, after paying bribes.
In short, the government, through its various agencies, should shoulder the blame for the unnecessary loss of lives through sins of commission and omission.
Condolence statements issued through the familiar government template have become too common.
The government does not seem to have solutions to the carnage on our roads, other than declaring them states of disaster where relatives are assisted with burial arrangements.
There are relevant laws in our statutes that can be used to prevent road accidents and the only reason why they are not properly applied is police ineptitude and corruption.
Police have to do their work and remove unfit drivers and vehicles from the country’s roads.
The government also has to do something to address the poor road infrastructure that contributes significantly to the needless loss of lives on our roads.
