By Promise Dube
Thirty people died while 153 people were injured in 288 road accidents during the Easter Holidays, the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has revealed.
While there has been a decrease in fatalities, with 73 people having died in the same period last year, there was a notable increase in road accidents and fatal accidents.
There were 16 fatal road accidents this year compared to 32 last year.
In a statement, National Police Spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said most of the accidents were due to human error.
“The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has noted that most of these road traffic accidents occurred during the night where travellers were moving in numbers with vehicles overloaded, mixing goods and passengers, in the process ignoring safety measures,” he said.
Ten people were killed while 31 others were injured in a fatal road traffic accident which occurred at the 192-kilometre peg along Hwange –Masvingo Highway on April 7.
In another fatal traffic accident, six people died while five others were injured on April 9 at around 2300 hours at the five-kilometre peg along Mvuma –Gweru road.
On the same day, another accident occurred along Harare –Masvingo Road, claiming two lives while two others were injured.
“The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) implores all motorists to be responsible on the roads, as the country prepares to commemorate Independence Day on the 18th April 2023.
“Let us play our part to make roads safe and not death traps, above all drivers should comply with road rules and regulations in order to safeguard lives,” said Nyathi.
