Family members of the victims of a horrific accident which claimed 22 lives have called on the government to attend to rehabilitate major highways to curb the high death toll on the country’s roads.
A South Africa-bound Quantum minibus collided head-on with a truck along the Bulawayo-Beitbridge highway.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa accorded the deceased a state-assisted funeral with each family getting a coffin, ZWL$2 million and food parcels.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has since released the identities of fifteen of the 22 victims.
Speaking at a memorial service held on Friday at Khumalo Hockey Stadium in honour of the victims who perished, the deceased’s family members also appealed to the traffic police to be strict on motorists.
“That stretch of the highway should be attended to, so many people have perished there. We appeal for street lights and emergency vehicles around that area. That area has gained a reputation of being an accident hotspot that is why it is called Danger,” said Edson Ndlalambi, the brother to the deceased, Aldrean Ndlalambi.
“Reflective road signs must be put in that area to warn motorists. There are many such hotspots around the country, they must be attended to.”
Ndlalambi also appealed to the police to mount roadblocks on the country’s highways to ensure that motorists adhere to traffic rules.
A brother to the deceased Sadam Maenzane, also called on the government to dualise the Bulawayo-Beitbridge to curb more accidents.
The distraught family members also appealed to the government for assistance in supporting the bereaved families who have lost their breadwinners.
Speaking on behalf of the government, Matabeleland South Provincial Secretary for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Latiso Dlamini-Maseko acknowledged that the roads were in a bad state and efforts were being made to rehabilitate them.
Dlamini-Maseko also read a condolence message from Umzingwane Member of Parliament, Levi Mayihlome who revealed that he had engaged Minister of Transport Felix Mhona to attend to the road.
She also appealed to motorists to observe traffic rules during the festive season.
“As we approach the festive season, this is what happens, this is also happening in other areas, we have heard about other accidents in Mwenenzi, and in Matabeleland North, we are shocked by all these, we urge all drivers here to fully observe the road rules because most roads accidents are due to human error,” she said.
Dlamini-Maseko also warned social media users against circulating graphic images of accidents.
“We are seeing graphic images on WhatsApp, people are receiving the news of the death of their relatives through WhatsApp, where is Ubuntu, how would you feel if it was your child, or relative, is this why we are buying cellphones,” she said.
She also dispelled rumours that one of the survivors of the accident had died at Mpilo Hospital where they are receiving treatment, noting that both of them are alive and government will foot their hospital bills.
