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Cde Hungwe

From Munyaradzi Doma in Zvishavane
Corruption by some members of the police force has in part led to the increase in road accidents, as they are prepared to turn a blind eye on traffic violations in exchange for bribes, Dzvivarasekwa Member of Parliament Cde Omega Hungwe has said. The legislator, who was speaking at the Mberengwa North Village Road Safety Awareness gala held last week at Mount Bhelingwe, believes that if traffic police adhered to strict monitoring on the roads, a lot of the accidents could be avoided.

“I want to say to the police that corruption is now too much, this cancer is now rampant,” she said.

“I don’t know how we can stop this cancer, because that is one of the reasons we are having so much road carnage, because you are allowing unlicensed drivers to drive, you are allowing drunken drivers smooth passage just because you have been given money.

“Please can that be addressed. We need to talk to the police Commissioner-General (Augustine) Chihuri, because if it’s an issue of remuneration, at least you are getting something, because some workers are not being paid. So, corruption should end.”

Cde Hungwe is also the Zanu-PF deputy national commissar.

She said it was important that the Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe decided to cascade the awareness for road safety to the rural areas, as it was the duty of every citizen to stop road carnage.

“Our chiefs, headmen and village heads can play a huge role in the war against road deaths and injury,” she said. “Of the 13 million (people) in Zimbabwe, three million live in our rural areas.

“Substantial opportunities and scope exist in the rural areas for creating a safer road environment through sustained introduction of community road safety programmes.

“Road safety awareness must begin at individual level, move to the peer, family, church, school, village and workplace level.

“As soon as anyone starts using the road, no matter how innocent one is, they are vulnerable to road crashes due to the incorrect actions of others, or the presence of unfavourable driving conditions.

“Prompt action must be taken against road carnage. The sanctity of human life must be preserved. A single death is one too many.”

Villagers were also challenged to prevent their animals from straying onto the roads.

Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe Midlands regional manager Mr Jonah Mhangami said they decided to take awareness campaigns to the rural areas because they wanted “everyone to be involved to stop road carnage”.