Road deaths related to high daily cash targets

Government has raised concerns over daily cash targets set by commuter bus owners, which could be attributed to the increasing number of road accidents.

Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Felix Mhona made these remarks during the 2024 Annual Road Safety Conference (ARSACO 2024) held in Harare, where various stakeholders gathered to discuss strategies for mitigating road deaths.

Addressing participants at the conference, Minister Mhona, who was represented by Deputy Minister Joshua Sacco, emphasised the need for collaborative efforts among stakeholders to develop innovative solutions for road safety.

“We cannot continue using the same tactics that have yielded limited success in the past, hoping for different results,” he stated. “I challenge all stakeholders here to seize this opportunity to discuss ways to combat the epidemic of road carnage that is devastating to our youth, families, and future.”

Minister Mhona highlighted that the daily cash targets imposed by commuter omnibus owners exert pressure on drivers to meet their goals, forcing them to exceed speed limits and disregard road rules, further contributing to an alarming rise in accidents.

Mr Tawanda Sisimayi, founder of Safer Roads Trust and ProDriving School, noted that the conference aims to formulate initiatives to reduce road carnage.

“This gathering of diverse stakeholders is crucial for achieving the 2030 targets of reducing road traffic deaths and injuries by at least 50 percent,” he said.

He encouraged participants to foster a spirit of unity and ongoing dialogue with regulatory agencies to invest in road safety.

Mr Edmore Tirivanhu Gwengwe, chairman of the Harare Youth Transporters Association (HAYTA), echoed the call for commuter omnibus owners to abandon the daily cash target system.

“The issues stem largely from the fixed daily fee structure.

“Drivers struggle to cover basic costs until they complete a significant number of trips, with profits only realised later in the day,” he said.

“As a commuter omnibus owner, I strongly discourage setting daily targets of US$120 or $150, as this prioritises targets over the safety of passengers.”

For perspective, a kombi plying the Harare-Chitungwiza road charging US$1,50 per passenger would need to make no less than six trips to meet the target.

This is nigh impossible considering the number of kombis that ply the same route and that the US$1,50 fare can only be charged during peak commuting hours.

Thus, to reach that target, kombis have to speed, often breaking traffic laws to ensure they meet the set targets.

The case is the same for routes closer to town like Kuwadzana where kombis charge a dollar per trip, with a daily target of anything between US$80 to $100.

The conference serves as a vital platform for stakeholders to collaborate on enhancing road safety and reducing the incidence of accidents on Zimbabwe’s roads. The Herald