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Kudzai Chikiwa, Chronicle Reporter
THE Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe (TSCZ) has bemoaned the circulation of accident pictures on social media saying people were deriving pleasure in taking pictures and videos of people dying instead of assisting them.

In the last two weeks, the country recorded two horrific bus accidents involving a Smart Express and Bolt Cutter buses in Rusape killing 46 people on the spot and the Brooklyn bus in West Nicholson that caught fire claiming 33 lives.

Before relatives of the victims knew of the death of their loved ones, social media was awash with horrific pictures of the accident scenes.

Soon after the West Nicholson accident, one twitter user @thompson posted: “Let’s at least try to be humane, there is nothing too special about breaking news if the news cause more harm than good.

“My old woman collapsed after my little son showed her a picture of the Brooklyn accident which our elderly sister was travelling in. We learnt later that she was among people burnt beyond recognition.”

In an interview, TSCZ managing director Mr Obio Chinyere said it was sad that people were taking pleasure in taking pictures and videos of people dying instead of assisting them.

“We appeal to members of the public to desist from inhumane behaviour of sending pictures and distributing them before victims’ relatives get to know of their death. Just imagine the shock, anxiety and depression it brings to learn of the death of your beloved one on social media. We may end up having more deaths as a result of shock and that will do no good to the nation,” he said.

Mr Chinyere said the majority of people see accidents as an opportunity for citizen journalism at the expense of saving lives.

“It appears people are now prioritising breaking news more than saving lives. It is better to use that gadget to call an ambulance or the police than to concentrate on becoming the first to dish out news,” he said.

Mr Chinyere said the TSCZ is going to engage authorities and see how they can deal with the issue.

Renowned historian, Mr Pathisa Nyathi bemoaned posting of horrific pictures on social media, saying it indicates a loss of Ubuntu.

“The behaviour where people make fun of death and human injury is sad and confirms that people have lost humanity.

“It’s not cultural, for in our culture death is respected and news of death should not be announced on social media by those that are first to the scene. It is announced by a relative or the police who are trained to handle such issues. It’s really sad that we have lost our sense of ubuntu,”he said.

—@tamary98