Africa-Press – Zimbabwe. Speed limits for buses are going to be enforced, with the police capacitated to ensure compliance.
This was said by the Transport and Infrastructure Development Minister Felix Mhona on Monday during a tour of the Chivhu accident scene where a Tinboom Coaches bus crashed on Sunday morning.
12 people, including the driver, died on the spot and another passenger later died at Chivhu Hospital. Several others were injured.
The bus was carrying 60 passengers, 13 died, and 40 sustained injuries, of which 27 were treated and discharged. 8 are still admitted at Chivhu Hospital, whilst 5 were transferred to Parirenyatwa Hospital.
Preliminary investigations indicated that the bus was speeding and the driver lost control of the vehicle before it veered off the road and crashed into trees.
Mhona urged bus operators to ensure their drivers are sticking to their timetables. He said:
We are saddened as a Ministry and Government that we are losing people due to road accidents.
After we were informed of this accident, we informed the President who then sent us here to the accident scene and hospital to see and understand what could have happened and what needed to be done, to assist the affected.
We are told that the driver was speeding. Maybe if he was not speeding, lives could have not been lost.
I want to appeal to Zimbabweans and motorists to always value life.
We are noting that drivers are not respecting the sanctity of life, this is very sad.
Therefore, as a Ministry, we are now, and urgently advocating stiffer penalties on those who would be found breaking road rules and regulations.
We are also, immediately, encouraging our buses to obey speed limits. This is crucial in saving lives.
We are also urging bus operators to ensure their drivers are sticking to their timetables.
Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution for Mashonaland East Aplonia Munzverengi, who was part of the delegation, called for stiffer penalties for drivers who break road rules and regulations.
The Government has since declared the accident a national disaster.
This means that the Government will provide support towards the burial of the deceased, and also support towards the injured.
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