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Richard Muponde, Plumtree Correspondent
THE Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe (TSCZ) has warned villagers that they risk prosecution should their stray livestock cause accidents on the country’s roads.

In an interview yesterday, TSCZ communications officer, Mr Tatenda Chinoda, warned farmers to pen their livestock to avoid unnecessary accidents.

The TSCZ completed erecting highway fences along the Bulawayo-Gweru and Plumtree-Bulawayo highways in December last year and March this year.

“It’s an offence for farmers or anyone to let their domestic animals stray onto our roads let alone become involved in accidents.

“We urge our farmers especially those living along the country’s major roads to pen their livestock so that we augment the efforts being made by highway fences to curb road carnage,” said Mr Chinoda.

The TSCZ has previously said road traffic accidents increased by 10 percent between 2016 and 2017.

According to a report, the TSCZ recorded a total of 42 430 accidents in 2017, compared to a total of 38 620 recorded the previous year.

The parastatal said many of the accidents on the country’s highways were caused by donkeys and cattle from farms and settlements near the highways.

The TSCZ has as a result decided to intensify educational campaigns to ensure that all farmers along major highways also put yellow reflective ear tags on their herds to reduce accidents. — @ richardmuponde