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Midlands Bureau
Redcliff Town Council has resolved to conduct a cleansing ceremony on Friday at the Redcliff Turn-Off along the Gweru-Harare Highway, amid reports that about 10 people died last year at the spot.

Last Friday, a vendor selling roasted maize cobs at the turn-off was fatally hit by a speeding car while trying to cross the road. Redcliff mayor Councillor Freddy Kapuya, who is chairing the committee organising the cleansing ceremony, said the place had become a black spot. He said they were planning to bring together churches from different denominations, as well as traditional leaders from surrounding areas for the cleansing ceremony.

“Our aim is to conduct a vigil with various churches, praying in an effort to cleanse this place. Almost every day we receive an accident report at the turn-off, some of them fatal,” he said.

“Most of the accidents that occur at the Redcliff Turn-Off tend to be fatal and only last Friday, a vendor was fatally hit by a speeding car at the very same spot.” Clr Kapuya said more than seven people died in separate accidents that occurred at the turn-off.

“We are very much concerned as council with the unfortunate happenings at the area. There were seven lives lost last year at the turn-off and as the local authority, we need to be seen doing something to make sure that we prevent loss of lives,” he said.

Clr Kapuya said the cleansing ceremony had been set for February. He said the council was still consulting if it was possible to put speed humps and other road traffic warning signs at the turn-off.

“The area is in our jurisdiction, but it’s along the highway. We do not have control over the highway, we need to consult first before taking action like putting some warning road signs and speed humps,” said Clr Kapuya.