By Loyd Matare
The Zimbabwe Passenger Association (ZPA) has called on the government to urgently intervene and strengthen transport safety measures amid growing concern over rising cases of fatal road accidents across the country.
Speaking to AfroGazette News, ZPA Secretary-General Paul Makiwa appealed to authorities to tighten documentation requirements for public service vehicles (PSVs), enforce existing laws and curb corruption on the roads.
“It pains us…every living soul is a passenger, from heads of state to the homeless, and all have the right to safety on our roads, in the air, on rail and on water.
“Passenger genocide must end,” Makiwa said.
Makiwa said poor documentation of PSVs, weak law enforcement and widespread corruption were the three biggest drivers of preventable deaths.
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He accused some operators of ignoring road motor transport regulations, overloading vehicles and using illegal folded seats that block emergency passageways.
“A 15-seater ends up carrying 20 passengers, and a bus certified for 65 carries 90 or more.
“Look at the example of the bus that killed 42 people in South Africa…it was overloaded,” he said.
“We appeal to government: enforce certified limits and remove those folded seats to save lives.”
He also criticised police for allowing unlicensed drivers and overloaded vehicles to pass through roadblocks.
“Minister of Home Affairs, Commissioners you are letting us down. High passenger genocides are happening because laws are not being enforced,” he said.
Makiwa also urged drivers to avoid driving under the influence or when emotionally unstable, warning that they risk “killing innocent souls.”
“To us the members of the public, let us avoid driving under the influence of anything that makes us drunk,” Makiwa said.
“Drivers, I plead with you whenever you are not in a good mood, desist from driving since you will kill yourself and other innocent souls.”
