Staff Reporter
In an effort to strengthen its protective measures for its citizens against road carnage, the Government has announced a crackdown on reckless drivers, vowing to enforce traffic rules with an iron fist.
This follows a video circulating on social media which captured a near fatal accident involving a cross border bus belonging to Mzansi Express. The Government took decisive action to enforce traffic rules in order to safeguard the lives of road users by announcing stringent measures, including prosecution against negligent and reckless drivers who violate traffic laws.
In a press statement, the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development, Honorable Felix Mhona, said the move was meant to reduce road carnage as witnessed in the viral video. He emphasized that the Government would enforce the law on rowdy motorists to reduce road traffic accidents.
“The nation cannot afford to continue experiencing these incessant road fatalities caused by recklessness and negligence by Public Service Vehicle (PSV) drivers. Informed by the foregoing violations and verified videographic evidence, the Ministry will ensure that the driver of the cross-border bus is prosecuted. I have directed that the provisions of the law be implemented dutifully, consistently, and religiously with the view to tame this negligence and recklessness.
“My Ministry promulgated Statutory Instrument 118 of 2023 which made it mandatory for operators of PSVs to install speed limiting and monitoring devices. This will go a long way in regulating over-speeding by PSV drivers and protect commuters and other road users in line with targets contained in the National Development Strategy 1 (2021-2025) which seeks to reduce road accidents and fatalities by a 25% margin per annum,” read the statement.
Additionally, Minister Mhona gave a stern warning to all reckless drivers that the law enforcement agents would not hesitate to suspend and cancel licenses of drivers and operators who violate traffic rules and regulations.
“Pursuant to this, I wish to reiterate and warn all Transport Operators, Associations, motorists, and members of the public that the Ministry will take stern measures provided by our laws against those who wantonly and blatant violate road traffic rules and regulations. The safety and security of all road users cannot be taken for granted. We will not hesitate to suspend and cancel licences of drivers and operators who violate traffic rules and regulations. We urge all road traffic law enforcement agencies to be on high alert to enforce the road traffic laws and ensure that non-compliant drivers and vehicles do not ply our roads,” said Minster Mhona.
Meanwhile, in collaboration with the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP), the Second Republic has deployed mobile teams of traffic safety officers and traffic police officers along the country's major highways. This proactive measure aims to monitor negligent public service vehicle drivers as well as reckless private drivers and to enhance road safety enforcement efforts.
