NYASHA MARUMBI
MUTARE RURAL-The Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe, ZRP and the Zimbabwe Council of Churches held a Crime Gospel Campaign at 22 Miles in Mutare Rural on Thursday.
The Crime Gospel Campaign was held in commemoration of the six victims of road traffic accident involving a Mazda BT 50 and a haulage truck that occurred at 22 Miles along Mutare-Marange Road on January 12 this year.
The campaign was held under the theme, ‘Safety first, there is no second chance’.
The guests also took time to be with the families of the deceased while paying homage and those who witnessed the horrific accident gave testimonies as part of traffic safety awareness.
ZRP Mutare District Superintendent Priscilla Mbira was the guest of honour, while TSCZ was represented by the regional manager, Ernest Muchena, Chief Musabayana also graced the occasion as well as pastors from various churches and officials from the Vehicle Inspection Department.
Addressing the delegates Dispol Mbira urged drivers to be cautious on the road and not overload their vehicles so as to avoid similar road accidents to occur in the future.
Mbira said that the number of accidents remained the same, at 89 for 2022 and 2023.
In 2022 she said 36 people died in road traffic accidents while the fatalities increased to 45 died in 2023.
Muchena encouraged those who wish to be behind the wheels to acquire drivers’ licences as it is illegal to drive without one.
He also said people should desist from drinking and driving to avoid accidents.
The police are appealing for information which may lead to the arrest of the truck driver responsible for the accident who is on the run.
