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Farai Mukuwane Herald Reporter
THE Zimbabwe Republic Police and the Harare City Council are urging motorists to respect vehicles sounding sirens. This follows complaints from emergency service providers that some motorists refused to give way to ambulances and fire engines. Speaking at a Press conference at Town House last Thursday, Harare Mayor Councillor Bernard Manyenyeni said the practice was worrying.

“There is need to respect these vehicles due to the work they do. “Fire engines protect members of public and investments made in various properties. “Then there is the Presidential motorcade, it is statutory and therefore needs to be respected. We need to respect the country’s first citizen. This happens world over,” he said.

Clr Manyenyeni said ambulances needed to be given way when they are carrying individuals in need of medical attention. Chief Superintendent Mr Edmund Maingire warned the public to desist from racing with ambulances on duty.

“We have launched this campaign after realising that the motoring public does not take heed to the movement of emergency vehicles on our roads. The Highway Code says a fire engine, ambulance or police vehicle sounding its sirens takes precedence over all other traffic, remain stationary until it has passed. This goes to both motorists and pedestrians on our roads,” he said.

According to the law, all motorists must pull off the road and give the right of way to the Presidential motorcade. In 2012 one person died on the spot while 15 others were injured when a police escort vehicle leading the Presidential motorcade was involved in a head-on collision with a commuter omnibus along the Robert Mugabe Highway in Zvimba.

The commuter omnibus driver failed to heed the sirens.