Bulawayo councillors have called on the city council to install solar-powered traffic lights around the city to prevent loss of lives due to road traffic accidents.
The issue was raised by Proportional Representation Councilor, Melisa Mabeza, in the recently held Full Council meeting.
Cllr Mabeza noted that the road that stretches from Burnside Road along Cecil Avenue, up to the intersection at Ekusileni Medical Center needs both to be rehabilitated and to have solar-powered traffic lights.
She said accidents are recorded at these intersections almost daily, especially during the peak hour when residents will be doing their school run.
“Your worship, in the issue of Traffic control and safety, I would like to talk about the numerous road accidents that I see when I am doing my school run especially in the morning. There are a lot of accidents along Burnside Road at the intersection of Cecil Avenue robots. We need solar robots because everyday in the morning there is an accident there,” Cllr Mabeza said.
“When you also use the same road, driving towards Spurs, that road is narrow and is riddled with potholes. Opposing traffic encroaches into each other’s lane almost causing accidents. When you try to avoid that road and use the one that passes by Fazak, you find that the same road has perennial power cuts.
“The robots at the intersection of Cecil, where there is Ekusileni Hospital, are always not working and there are a lot of accidents that occur there. Residents in the WhatsApp group from that area are always complaining about the numerous accidents that occur at these intersections. They have claimed so many lives. If it’s possible can we put solar robots at those intersections?”
Ward 24 councillor, Tavengwa Zidya, also raised similar concerns about Godridge Road in his area.
He said residents have been complaining since time immemorial about the numerous accidents that have occurred there.
“There is also a similar concern from residents of Nketa about Godridge Road Your Worship. The lack of robots on that road has claimed so many lives. The residents are appealing for some traffic control intervention,” Cllr Zidya said.
