By Farirai Mutumburanzou
The Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe launched the Heroes and Defence Forces awareness road campaign at the Rainbow Towers yesterday.
The event was graced by different stakeholders that include ZUDAC, Passengers Association of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe Republic Police, Discovery Ambulance Services, GHACO, ZPTO and NTDA in a shared commitment in fighting road carnage during this public holidays.
Speaking at the launch Mr K Sibanda the Board Chairman of TSCZ highlighted how the council is concerned about the surge of accidents in the country and as a council the measures they have put in place to curb road carnage.
“We are aware and extremely concerned in the high rate of accidents prevalent on our roads and as such TSCZ has rolled out a number of programmes to contegise the public on proper road use and this include but not limited to Road Champion program, revival of the driver of the year competition and this we plan to extend our reach inline with the President’s mantra that as we execute our programmes we should thrive to live noone and no place behind,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development Honourable Felix Tapiwa Mhona officially launched the Heroes and Defense forces Day campaign in partnership with Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe and added that public service operations must belong to an Association before given a route permit and certificate of fitness.
“Today I call upon drivers to practice the basic principles of Defensive Driving and to stay alert and attentive all the time,” he said.
He went on and acknowledged the work done by the TSCZ in the country.
“Allow me at this stage to acknowledge the current efforts by the Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe in undertaking and leading programmes that promote road safety in our country. These programmes include the training of both public and private service vehicle drivers on the Defensive Driving Course.
“I note with satisfaction that, in the context of devolution, TSCZ has taken road safety to remote communities through the Road Safety Champions programme and the First Responder’s programme. In this regard, within the spirit of “leaving no one and no place behind’, we have witnessed TSCZ working with I Chiefs, Village Heads, Church Leaders, and musicians and even artists to name but a few, in the dissemination of road safety and in post-crash care,” he said.
The Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Hon C Tawenga represented said the country is loosing 400million worth of assets on the road and called solidarity between key stakeholders to closely work together for a better results.
“As we gravitate towards the period where we anticipate high volumes of traffic during the Heroes and Defence Forces day holidays and the much anticipated SADC Summit, I would like to express my deepest concern of the high rate of road crushes and negligence particularly right here in Harare I’m informed that the nation is losing an average of 400 million worth of assets and average of 6people are losing their lives on a daily basis.
“However, I would like to acknowledge efforts by the Zimbabwe Republic Police and TSCZ among other stakeholders who have been making strides in enforcing the law,” he said.
ZUDAC board supported the idea and called drivers to adhere to the law and drive safely on the roads
Artists that included Baba naMai Charamba, Victor Kunonga, Leonard Zhakata, Albert Nyathi, Somandla Ndlovu are amongst the artists who successfully trained with TSCZ for their defensive drivers licenses and got their certificates.
