-as Heroes holidays begin
SYDNEY MUBAIWA
GWERU- Police in the Midlands province have intensified their traffic safety enforcement campaign ahead of the Heroes Day and Defence Forces Day holidays.
The Midlands divisions of the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP), the Vehicle Inspection Department (VID) together with the Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe on Wednesday launched a joint road traffic awareness campaign at Chiwundura turnoff along the Gweru-Harare highway.
The initiative is part of broader efforts to reduce road carnage as the nation approaches the Heroes and Defence Forces holidays, a period that typically sees increased traffic volumes and hightened risk on the roads.
In his remarks, Officer Commanding Midlands Province Police, Commissioner Partson Nyabadza urged motorists to avoid speeding, overloading, and driving under the influence of alcohol, warning that enforcement will be strict over the holidays.
“We come with heavy hearts in the backdrop of recent high numbers of road traffic accidents across the country, where lives were lost. Cases that quickly come to mind are the Seke Road heavy truck and a commuter minibus tragedy which claimed 17 lives on 22 July, 2025.
“The Mberengwa turnoff head on collision of two trucks which claimed two lives on Sunday night (03 /08/25) and the Goversberg bus and truck accident near Hunters Road along the Kwekwe-Gweru Road which claimed two lives on 25 July, 2025,” he said.
He said the issue of road safety affects everyone -motor vehicle owners, drivers, passengers, and indeed pedestrians are always the victims.
“As police through analysis and investigations of Road Traffic Accidents, it is observed that a majority of accidents are caused by human error,” he said.
He said employers and drivers of public service vehicles should not set for themselves targets which encourage speeding or flouting road rules advising drivers to avoid drinking and driving.
He said motor vehicles must be certified fit for road use through regular checks by the Vehicle Inspection Department.
“Drivers need to exercise high levels of caution with regards to speeds as speed may be permissible but turning out to be excessive with regards to prevailing road circumstances and conditions,” he said.
He said passengers should report reckless drivers to police to save lives.
Commissioner Nyabadza urged members of the public to supervise children and encouraged people to report any suspicious activity by strangers. He also commented the community in reporting drug abuse cases and wished all citizens a safe holiday.
