69 perish in road accidents

Police also reported that they had arrested 42 drivers for driving under the influence of alcohol during the same period.
Another 410 people were injured in 420 accidents recorded countrywide.
Drunken driving or driving under the influence of alcohol has become a serious national concern as road carnage statistics continue on an upward trend.
Although every single injury and death caused by drunken driving or driving under the influence of alcohol is certainly preventable, in Zimbabwe the extent of crashes that are alcohol-influenced during the country’s public holidays is alarming.
Since the Easter Holiday started police have arrested 42 motorists for driving while drunk and 69 people have been killed
The 42 drivers are expected to appear in court soon.
National police spokesperson Superintendent Andrew Phiri yesterday said they had impounded 532 unroadworthy vehicles and issued 29 230 tickets.
“Mashonaland East province recorded the highest number of deaths with 14 people killed in road accidents,” he said.
He said Matabeleland South, Matabeleland North and Mashonaland Central provinces recorded the least numbers of deaths with two each.
Supt Phiri said Harare had the highest number of accidents with a total of 189 recorded so far.
Last year, 22 people were killed while 206 were injured during the first two days of the Easter Holiday.
Supt Phiri urged all road users to continue exercising caution and abide by all traffic regulations.
“Easter holidays have accidents that claim a lot of lives with several other people being injured and we would like to urge all drivers to drive responsibly,” he said.
Last week, senior police officers were assigned to supervise and monitor all operations of the force to ensure a crime and accident-free Easter Holiday nationwide.
Those that have been assigned are Assistant Commissioners and Senior Assistant Commissioners in a bid to bring sanity countrywide, especially during this period.
The senior officers are supervising their juniors both on the roads and police stations countrywide, making sure that they are “up to scratch” with all the plans in terms of crime-free and reducing road carnage.
Last year police acquired 40 top-of-the-range BMW vehicles, which were deployed in all the country’s major roads to curb road carnage.
Also acquired were 25 Ford Ranger trucks and 436 bicycles for attending to crime scenes and increasing police visibility.
Police Commissioner-General Augustine Chihuri has been on record saying the force would be out in full force to ensure that sanity prevailed along the country’s major highways.
He said all those found on the wrong side of the law would be brought to book without fear or favour.
Supt Phiri said police would remain alert on the ground and thwart any criminal activities.

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