Tendai Chara
ON July 22, 2025, the nation learnt with horror and outrage of the Seke Road accident that claimed 17 lives President Mnangagwa duly declared the accident a national disaster However, the crisis on Zimbabwe’s roads continues unabated As August — which is punctuated by two successive national holidays, Heroes Day and Defence Forces Day — progresses, there are renewed calls for drivers and the general public to exercise caution and adhere to traffic rules and regulations
Masvingo Central legislator Cde Eddison Zvobgo Junior visiting one of the injured victims of the Chikozho Bus Crash at Masvingo Provincial Hospital today
The month is generally associated with a spike in road traffic accidents owing to an increase in people’s movements, as they travel to their rural homes for get-togethers; holiday destinations; or other areas for church gatherings The increased traffic volume, coupled with reckless driving, speeding and failure to observe road regulations, significantly contributes to the high number of accidents Those who are superstitious believe increased fatalities during the month can be ascribed to spiritual forces This belief is rooted in traditional spiritual practices, such as tombstone unveilings and other rituals that honour ancestral spirits
Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Felix Mhona (left) flanks,Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister Kazembe Kazembe and Transport and Infrastructural Development Deputy Ministers, Cdes Joshua Sacco (right) follows the proceedings during the launch of Heroes and Defence Forces holiday road safety awareness campaign, in Harare yesterday.- Picture: Charles Muchakagara Last year, 37 people were killed and over 100 were injured in road traffic accidents countrywide during the Heroes Day and Defence Forces Day holidays A total of 149 road traffic accidents were recorded during this period, compared to 134 that occurred in 2023 Four fatal accidents were recorded on August 12 and 13 in Marondera, Harare and Nyanga In one of the accidents, five family members lost their lives and four others were injured
While holidays like the festive season and Easter also see a rise in accidents, statistics show that August has a relatively higher number of crashes in a much shorter period During the 2024 Christmas holidays, for instance, 77 people lost their lives and 401 were injured A total of 1 211 road traffic accidents were recorded The accidents were, however, reported between December 15 and 26
Also, data released by the police revealed that a total of 384 road traffic accidents, which claimed 24 lives, were recorded during the 2025 Easter and Independence Day holidays Anxiety
Fungai Mlambo, an entrepreneur, always feels antsy about travelling during the holidays “We have a family function in Mutare, but I am not sure if I will be able to travel Too many road accidents happen during this period,” he said
“Supernatural forces are behind these accidents The fact that so many accidents happen during a relatively short period raises suspicions.”
However, the police says most accidents are due to reckless driving, mechanical faults, speeding and overtaking errors Zimbabwe Republic Police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi said the police are presently clamping down on reckless drivers and traffic offenders The police recently introduced an electronic traffic management system, which uses automated camera surveillance to enhance enforcement and improve road safety
Commissioner Nyathi reported that “during the ongoing crackdown, more than 1 000 commuter omnibuses have been impounded for violating traffic rules” Farai Bondera, an official with Drive Zimbabwe Roadside Assistance, an organisation that helps motorists in times of need, said bad driving and vehicle unroadworthiness are major causes of accidents “Some of the drivers drink and drive during the holidays Also, some of the vehicles on our roads are in bad shape and should not be there,” Bondera explained
Superstition
Traditional healer Cuthbert Nyaruvenda opines that the spirits of the departed cause accidents and mysterious deaths during this time of the year Cuthbert Nyaruvenda “During this month, there will be a lot of tombstone unveilings and appeasing of spirits ‘‘Our ancestral spirits are very active during this time and might cause accidents,” he said “We have other national holidays where very few accidents are recorded
Those who say the high number of vehicles is behind the accidents are ignorant of the spiritual dynamics.”
But Apostle Painos Mvuramabwe, of The Word Gospel Church, said the fatalities normally associated with August have nothing to do with the spiritual realm “Accidents always happen Factors such as mechanical faults, bad driving and fatigue cause crashes The idea of relating accidents to spiritualism is far-fetched,” he said
Gospel musician and church leader Pastor Charles Charamba agrees that the high number of accidents has nothing to do with spiritualism “A lot of travelling happens during the Heroes and Defence Forces holidays During this time, many tombstone unveilings and church conferences are held ‘‘The fact that more people will be travelling leads to more vehicles on the road,” said Pastor Charamba, who is also the Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe’s road safety ambassador, together with his wife Mai Charamba
“Mechanical faults, fatigue and reckless driving contribute to the high accident rates.”
Some drivers, he added, do not observe basic road rules and regulations, while others consume alcohol while driving Apostle George Dhliwayo, of the Great Restoration and Deliverance International Ministries, urged Zimbabweans to be “spiritually alert and physically responsible” during the holidays “As we approach the August holidays, let us focus on two key pillars: spiritual awareness and physical responsibility,” he said He also urged drivers to exercise caution and avoid reckless driving
Warning
President Mnangagwa recently directed the police to enforce road traffic regulations with greater stringency “The rise in reckless driving in our country, which is robbing our country of many lives, cannot be allowed to continue,” President Mnangagwa said during the 385th ZANU PF Ordinary Session of the Politburo Commissioner Nyathi reiterated that “the police will not hesitate to arrest anyone found on the wrong side of the law” A fortnight ago, The Sunday Mail and Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe hosted the annual Safe Driving Campaign and Conference in Harare
The aim of the campaign was to promote safer driving practices A poll conducted on social media by The Sunday Mail revealed that 62 percent of respondents believe speeding is the primary cause of road accidents and that commuter omnibuses are a major source of crashes The Government is reportedly working on tough new penalties to combat reckless driving, especially by repeat offenders whose actions often lead to fatal accidents Proposed measures include jail time, as well as the suspension or cancellation of driver’s licences for habitual traffic violators
Under the mulled new measures, drivers found guilty of culpable homicide might face jail terms and repeat offenders could potentially lose their licences Other proposals include setting up of a public hotline through which members of the public report reckless drivers, and a rollout of digital tools that would tie unpaid fines to vehicle licence renewals The Government is also looking at tightening the rules governing vehicle ownership Share on Facebook
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Originally published on Business Weekly
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Source: Businessweekly
