Zimpapers Logo

The awareness campaign was meant to reduce road carnage on the country’s roads.

They mounted roadblocks at about 50km along the Bulawayo-Gwanda, Bulawayo-Victoria Falls and Bulawayo-Solusi roads.

They distributed awareness pamphlets to motorists on the dangers of overloading,  dangerous overtaking, dangers of using cellphones while driving and speeding.

The TSCZ regional traffic manager for the southern region, Ms Barbra Mpofu, expressed hope that the campaign would bear fruits basing on the fact that 1 075 vehicles passed through one of their roadblocks on Tuesday.

“A total of 1 075 vehicles passed through the roadblock along the Bulawayo-Gwanda highway,” she said.

Ms Mpofu urged motorists to check their vehicles before embarking on their journeys.

“During our inspection we found that there were buses that had wheels with loose nuts, which pose a danger to passengers.

“We strongly urge drivers especially public transporters to check their vehicles before embarking on long journeys,” said Ms Mpofu.

She said the accident which happened in Masvingo on Monday that killed 21 people had prompted her council to embark on the awareness campaign.

Vice-president of the MIAZ Mr Reggies Sibanda said his organisation was assisting in identifying faults on vehicles.

He said defective vehicles and poor quality of tyres caused 90 percent of road accidents.

“We decided to use our expertise to assist in identifying faults as part of the safety awareness campaign. We check buses especially and the common fault we have discovered is loose wheel nuts,” he said.

Mr Sibanda said there was a need for public transporters to check their vehicles before each journey.

“When a driver of a bus hears a strange sound he should stop immediately to avoid putting at risk the lives of passengers.

“Today there was a bus which had loose wheel nuts, and it was travelling to South Africa. This is very dangerous and we insist vehicles should be checked,” he said.

Meanwhile, the police have urged motorists to exercise extreme caution.

The police officer-in-charge of press and public relations, Inspector Blessmore Chishaka, said the force would intensify their presence on the roads and conduct routine patrols meant to stamp out any criminal behaviour.

He urged motorists to refrain from driving under the influence of alcohol and speeding on the roads.
“The police will continue to make a passionate appeal to the motoring public to ensure rules of the road are observed all the time,” he said.