Chaka, Zimbabwe – September 8, 2024 – In a move that has left many questioning the government’s priorities, the four victims of the tragic Chaka Business Centre accident have been laid to rest under a state-assisted funeral, while there remains no action or even mention of plans to improve road infrastructure in the area. The accident, which claimed the lives of Grace Chikwaya (38), Lisa Gwenhure (5), Lovemore Muganhu (39), and Angeline Mutsikwa (52), has devastated the community and raised widespread calls for road safety improvements, yet the government’s focus appears limited to offering financial aid for burials.

The accident, involving a head-on collision between a Honda Fit and a Ford Everest, resulted in the Ford Everest careening off the road and striking ten pedestrians, four of whom succumbed to their injuries. Two died on the spot, while two others passed away at Driefontein Hospital. Despite the devastating nature of this tragedy, the government has failed to acknowledge the glaring need for infrastructural interventions, such as installing speed bumps or enforcing stricter road safety measures in the accident-prone area.

“State-Assisted Funeral but No Infrastructure Solutions”

While the offer of a state-assisted funeral was seen by some as a gesture of goodwill, many locals believe it’s a patronizing response to a larger, systemic problem. The community, already reeling from the loss, has expressed frustration at the lack of any commitment to fix the hazardous road conditions that contributed to the accident.

“It was a painful moment for me as I watched my wife being hit by the vehicle. These roads are dangerous because people speed. We need action, not just sympathy. The President should address this issue before more families are torn apart,” said the husband of one of the victims.

Authorities Focus on Human Error Over Road Safety

Officials have, so far, deflected attention from the urgent need for better road infrastructure. The Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe’s managing director, Mr. Munesu Munodawafa, emphasized that speeding and disregard for road rules were likely factors in the accident, but failed to mention any steps the government would take to improve safety measures. He noted that while road rehabilitation efforts are underway, the onus is on drivers to exercise caution.

However, residents have pointed out that without tangible changes, like speed bumps or pedestrian safety zones, such tragic accidents will continue. “The roads are dangerous, and simply blaming drivers isn’t going to fix that. We need speed bumps and better signage to make sure this doesn’t happen again,” said a local shopkeeper at Chaka Business Centre.

Lip Service from Government Officials

Tourism and Hospitality Minister, Barbra Rwodzi, offered condolences to the victims’ families and praised the President for funding the state-assisted funeral. However, when it came to addressing the need for infrastructure changes, the Minister only offered vague assurances that road construction was an “ongoing process.” Once again, there was no concrete plan to install measures that could slow down speeding vehicles and protect pedestrians.

“As a community, we appreciate the financial support, but what we really need are safer roads. Offering burials without taking steps to prevent future accidents feels like putting a Band-Aid on a festering wound,” said a distraught relative of one of the victims.

Traditional Leaders Call for Rituals Instead of Reforms

In an additional blow to hopes for practical solutions, traditional leaders have suggested performing rituals to “cleanse” the accident-prone stretch of road. Chief Chirumanzu expressed his belief that the area between Chaka Business Centre and Mvuma has become cursed and that performing rituals might reduce the frequency of accidents.

While rituals may provide spiritual comfort to some, the overwhelming sentiment from locals is that meaningful change will come from infrastructure improvements, not ceremonies. “Rituals won’t stop speeding cars. We need proper roads, speed bumps, and pedestrian crossings,” argued another local resident.

Growing Frustration, No Promised Solutions

Despite the devastation and outcry, the government continues to dodge the critical issue of road safety. The focus remains on symbolic gestures, such as the state-assisted funerals and vague mentions of “road rehabilitation,” rather than addressing the deadly reality of high-speed traffic and poor pedestrian protections at Chaka Business Centre.

For now, the victims have been buried with state assistance, but the underlying problem of unsafe roads remains. The community is left with a lingering fear that, without immediate action to improve road infrastructure, more lives will be lost to preventable accidents. “We are mourning today, but how many more times must we gather for funerals before the government does something about this road?” | ZBC, Additional Reporting