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The deadly toll of scotch carts neglect

As Zimbabwe’s ploughing season begins, traditional scotch carts transport crucial farm equipment including ploughs, cultivators and harrows. However, overloaded and unattended scotch carts, pulled by oxen or donkeys, pose a significant threat to farmers, pedestrians, and motorists.

Road safety experts sound the alarm on alarming hazards, stressing the urgent need for effective solutions to prevent accidents and safeguard rural communities.

In an exclusive interview with AfroGazette News, Masvingo Provincial Police Spokesperson Inspector Kudakwashe Dhewa cautions parents and guardians against allowing children to travel alone in scotch-carts, as youthful enthusiasm for speed can lead to reckless behavior and tragic consequences.

“We warn adults against leaving children alone in scotch-carts, as animals’ unpredictable behavior can overwhelm them. During ploughing season, vigilance is crucial as unsecured equipment can slide backwards, causing severe head injuries,” said Assistant Inspector Dhewa.

The Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe (TSCZ) Media and Corporate Communications Officer, Mrs. Lucy Kuwandira Mapfumo, discusses the “Livestock Road Safety Awareness Campaign”, a joint initiative with the Ministry of Agriculture and Transport aimed at educating farmers on the importance of road safety.

“Through our programme, farmers learn safe livestock management techniques, including daytime movement and nighttime penning to minimize road accidents. This collaborative effort with the Ministry addresses a critical issue, reducing crashes involving unattended livestock.”

She stresses the importance of using reflectors on scotch carts at night.

“During agricultural shows, we educate farmers on the importance of equipping their scotch carts with reflectors to enhance nighttime visibility. While we discourage nighttime use due to safety concerns, we recommend using reflectors and wearing reflective clothing in unavoidable situations to ensure motorists and other road users can identify them”, said Kuwandira.

Two juveniles tragically lost their lives in August 2024, in separate accidents in Mutoko and Murehwa. Both incidents involved scotch-carts colliding with obstacles, one with a tree stump and the other with a stone, overturning and ejecting the victims, resulting in fatal head injuries.

In another incident, a man from Musanzika village, Mbire tragically lost his life after jumping off a donkey-drawn scotch cart, slipping into a flooded river while attempting to control the panicked animals.

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