Calls for stiffer penalties grow after Harare accident kills eight
HARARE residents have raised concerns over the increasing number of fatal accidents involving unlicensed commuter omnibus operators.
The latest tragedy occurred on Wednesday morning along Bulawayo Road, claiming eight lives, including Dzivarasekwa couple, Enock Chanengeta and Sophia Machema, who leave behind three children.
When the ZBC News Crew visited their family home on Thursday, a sombre atmosphere prevailed as loved ones struggled to come to terms with the devastating loss.
The accident involved a commuter omnibus driven by an unlicenced driver, a haulage truck, and a Nissan UD truck.
“As a family, we are devastated because they left three school-going children and we do not even have a clue how we are going to manage. The painful thing is that the driver did not have a license, now look at how it ended,” family spokesperson, Mrs Ronia Chanengeta said.
Residents have voiced frustration over the gross negligence by commuter omnibus drivers, amid confirmation by the Zimbabwe Republic Police that the driver of the omnibus was unlicensed.
“The problem with kombi drivers is that they leave the vehicle in the hands of unlicensed conductors and touts while they go about their business and this costs lives,” a resident said.
“We appeal to the responsible authorities to bring to book all those who drive without licenses otherwise we are all going to perish,” another added.
Representatives of transporters associations highlighted the urgent need to bring sanity to the public transportation business.
“We are saying unlicensed individuals, touts, conductors and drivers must desist from driving at all costs. We also encourage kombi operators to join transporters associations so that their operations will be easily supervised and regulated and ensure the drivers receive proper training,” Harare Youth Transporters Association’s Chairperson, Mr Edmore Gwengwe said.
“We encourage the government to enact a law that enables transport associations to regulate themselves so that every operator is closely monitored.
“We also appeal for stiffer penalties to those who are defying traffic regulations,” the National Coordinator for the Passengers Association of Zimbabwe, Mr Tafadzwa Goriati stated.
Road traffic accidents involving unlicensed drivers are on the increase with calls for stiffer penalties on reckless motorists fuelling road carnage.
Meanwhile, the Zimbabwe Republic Police has released the names of seven of the eight people killed in the accident, saying one male adult is yet to be identified.
The deceased are Zedi Chikomo, Mary Round, Nyarai Meki, Sophia Machemba, Enock Chanengeta, Blessing Banda and Takudzwa Musekiwa.
*ZbcNews*