The Sunday News
Clementine Phulu and Caroline Mutsawu, Sunday News Reporters
POLICE have urged motorists to always exercise caution on the road to reduce accidents during the ongoing festive season.
This comes in the wake of a number of traffic accidents that have been recorded in the country to date. Police say 92 people died while 333 were injured from 1 285 road traffic accidents recorded throughout the country in the first two weeks of the festive season. The statistics marked an increase of 20 deaths, compared to last year during the same period when 72 accident-related deaths were recorded. Last year 337 people were injured in 1 626 accidents. As per police the festive season stretches from 15 December to 15 January.
Some of the accidents of note in the Matabeleland region include a fatal accident that claimed the lives of three people on Christmas Day which occurred at 7.45 pm at the 300km peg along the Bulawayo-Victoria Falls Road.
Damaged section of the Bulawayo-Victoria Falls road near Masuwe River Bridge in the resort city
According to Matabeleland North police spokesperson Inspector Glory Banda, two of the deceased were pedestrians and siblings, who were hit by a Toyota Hilux travelling to Victoria Falls. The silver Toyota Hilux reportedly had three passengers on board including the driver, while the other car, a silver Honda Fit had six passengers on board and was headed to Bulawayo.
“Upon approaching a curve at the 300km peg, the driver of the Toyota Hilux lost control and veered off the road to the left where Bridget and Akim Ngwenya were hit and died on the spot. The Honda Fit continued on the left side on the gravel and hit five other pedestrians who were walking besides the road.
“The Toyota Hilux driver tried to regain control of his vehicle back to the road resulting in him crossing the road to the right and hitting the Honda Fit which was already parked off the road where one passenger who was disembarking died upon arrival at St Patrick’s Hospital. The Toyota Hilux was dragged to the middle of the road while the Honda Fit over turned and landed on its roof on the right side of road,” said Insp Banda.
In another fatal road accident which occurred at the 59km peg along Plumtree- Mphoengs Road one person died while five others were seriously injured when the vehicle they were travelling in veered off the road, overturned and rolled several times before landing on its right side.
Matabeleland South police spokesperson Insp Loveness Mangena said a 31-year-old man was driving a Toyota Corolla and lost control of the vehicle which then veered off the road overturned, rolled and then landed on its right side. Meanwhile, police in Bulawayo are investigating two cases of fatal hit and run accidents which occurred on 26 December where two pedestrians died after being struck by cars and the motorists did not stop.
In the first incident at around 1am, the now deceased Joseph Nkomo (31) of Sauerstown was found injured and unconscious on the side of the road by police officers on patrol. It is suspected that he was hit by a car which did not stop along Lady Stanley Avenue. He sustained head injuries and bruises and was ferried to the hospital where he succumbed to the injuries at around 8am.
In another incident that occurred at around 2am on the same day, a pedestrian, who has been identified as Fanuel Dube (40) of Stodward Farm in Umguza was killed by an unknown motorist, while walking along Garden Eden Road. His body was discovered by another resident of Stodward Farm in the middle of the road. It is suspected that he was knocked down by an unknown motorist who fled after the accident. There were also drag marks which were about 25 metres long.
Bulawayo Province police spokesperson Inspector Abednico Ncube confirmed the incidents and urged motorists to always exercise caution on the roads.
Inspector Abednico Ncube
“As police we urge motorists to always exercise caution on the roads to avoid such incidents. We warn motorists that it is an offence to run away from an accident leaving a victim to die and also failing to report an accident. We appeal to anyone with information that may lead to the arrest of the accused persons to report at any nearest police station,” said Insp Ncube.
In Matabeleland North, Insp Banda said; “Motorists are advised to avoid speeding which normally results from excitement or stress and observe speed limits. Driving when stressed or over excited may lead to lack of concentration and inattention.When one is fatigued he or she should pull off the road and rest. Drivers are urged not to drink and drive as this leads to fatalities. The public should not allow unlicensed drivers to drive vehicles and motorists are advised to do brake-tests before taking off because brake failure is a major cause of accidents.”
