By Savious Madanhire
The Heroes and Defence Forces holiday meant to honor the country’s brave men and women, was marred by a surge in fatal road accidents, claiming 16 lives and leaving 77 injured from 12 to 13 August 2024.
According to statistics released by the Zimbabwe Republic Police, 149 road traffic accidents were recorded during the holiday, an increase from 134 in 2023.
However, the number of fatal accidents decreased to eight, compared to 12 last year.
“The recorded statistics show that total road traffic accidents increased from 134 to 149 and fatal accidents decreased from 12 to eight. However, the number of fatalities rose from 15 to 16 and injuries remained relatively consistent, with 76 reported in 2023 and 77 in 2024.
”The police launched an investigation into the causes of the accidents where speeding and reckless driving were cited as the main causes of accidents.
“Some road traffic accidents recorded during the Heroes and Defence Forces holidays were caused by reckless driving, mechanical faults, speeding and overtaking errors, for instance, in a fatal road traffic accident on 13 August at around 0645 hours at corner St Patricks and Seke Road.
“The accident was caused by an overtaking error after a Toyota Hiace Kombi carrying 15 passengers tried to overtake a Mazda Bongo Vanwas intending to turn right. Subsequently, the Toyota Hiace Kombi went on to collide head-on with a Nissan Caravan Kombi, resulting in the death of three people and injury of 32 others.”
Meanwhile, a Nissan Caravan kombi carrying 12 passengers overturned after developing a mechanical failure while ascending a steep hillin Nyanga along the Magadzire-Dazi dust road near Nyagoma Village and rolled backwards before overturning several times resulting in the death of three passengers and the injury of five others including the driver.
