Story By Farirai Mutumburanzou
Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe’s Operations Director, Mr Mahunda, yesterday gave a presentation on road safety to the African Apostolic Church Sect during their Easter celebrations in Guvambwa, Chikomba.
At the Easter Celebrations in Guvambwa, Mr Mahunda urged travellers to be cautious on the roads.
“TSCZ is under the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development, and our main objective is to educate the public on safer ways of traveling on our roads.
We urge you all to avoid traveling with gas tanks, avoid mixing passengers with laguage,” he said.
Furthermore, he cautioned the congregants against driving soon after church, as they may be exhausted, and this may lead to road accidents.
“After church, you may be tired, and this can lead to road accidents. Please take the necessary rest before embarking on your journey.
“You need to rest and gather enough energy to be able to drive safely.
“We want to remind you all that night-time driving is associated with a high number of road accidents, and we advise you to avoid it if possible,” he said.
Mr Mahunda pointed out that most road accidents in Zimbabwe are caused by human error.
“It is important to follow road rules and regulations, as statistics show that human error is responsible for 95% of road accidents in Zimbabwe,” he stressed.
In response to this information, the Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe encouraged the congregants to get Defensive Driving Licenses.
“All drivers should consider getting defensive driving licenses, as this training can help them avoid accidents by recognizing potential hazards and responding appropriately,” he added.
Moreover, According to Mr Mahunda, the TSCZ has introduced several programs to educate the public on road safety, including the Road Safety Champions program.
“The Road Safety Champions program was developed to train people to assist accident victims and promote road safety.
“Since January, we have trained 979 Road Safety Champions through free training sessions across the country,” he said.
Director Mahunda also said that the initiative involves working with church leaders.
“We are collaborating with churches because we value their leadership, and we believe they can effectively communicate the Road Safety Champions program to their congregants,” he added.
He stated that the TSCZ would provide free training on obtaining provisional licenses in all constituencies.
“The TSCZ is rolling out a free program to help people obtain provisional licenses in their constituencies,” he announced.
Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development, Honourable Felix Tapiwa Mhona, was also present and urged the public to cooperate and follow the road rules to avoid accidents during the Easter holiday.
“The tragic accident that killed 45 people in South Africa should serve as a reminder to all drivers to follow the rules of the road.
“We pray that God will grant us a safe journey back home,” he concluded.
The Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development is collaborating with the Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe to implement various programs to reduce road accidents and the loss of life.
