By A Correspondent
Opposition leader Advocate Nelson Chamisa has expressed deep concern over the alarming rise in road traffic accidents in Zimbabwe, highlighting the tragic loss of life and the failure of the government to address the country’s poor road safety.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, Chamisa lamented the recent accident that claimed at least 24 lives, calling it a tragic reminder of the dangerous conditions on Zimbabwe’s roads. He stated, “I’m unsettled by the recent accident that claimed at least 24 lives.
Too many lives are being lost on our roads. Zimbabwe has been ranked globally as the country with the highest rate of road traffic accidents. Our roads are unsafe. Our roads should not be death traps that swallow lives; they must be safe passages to our destinations, not destinations of tragedy.”
Chamisa went on to emphasize the dangerous reality of travelling in Zimbabwe today, describing it as a perilous undertaking. “Travelling in Zimbabwe now is like going to war, you never know if you will make it alive,” he remarked, underscoring the sense of uncertainty and fear that has gripped the nation’s road users.
While acknowledging the efforts of emergency responders, Chamisa criticized the inadequate response times, which he said were costing lives. “Our emergency responders are doing their best under difficult circumstances, but a response time of 1-2 hours is simply too long and is costing lives at the accident scene,” he said.
The opposition leader also painted a grim picture of the state of hospitals, which he argued have become inadequate in providing necessary care. “Instead of being places of healing, our hospitals are themselves in hospital, have become hospitalised – they are basically death cages where treatment is absent, and survival is a mirage.”
Chamisa’s statement went beyond just the issue of road safety; he pointed to what he described as the “first and biggest accident” — the governance under President Emmerson Mnangagwa. He remarked, “The first and biggest accident is the accident of a wrong government,” referring to the administration’s failure to address the systemic issues contributing to the country’s deteriorating infrastructure and public health systems.
He continued by blaming the government for a lack of action in addressing the high number of accidents, which he believes is a direct result of poor leadership. “We have recorded inordinate accidents on the roads. All this pointing to a glaring defect in governance and leadership not only in policy direction but also in the decisive actions and interventions needed to address this debilitating challenge on our roads,” Chamisa said.
In closing, Chamisa extended his condolences to the families affected by the recent tragedy and wished the injured a speedy recovery. “We continue to pray for the families mourning the 24 lives lost in this tragedy. We also wish all the injured a quick and speedy recovery. May God comfort and strengthen us all,” he added.
Chamisa’s remarks came with a call for better leadership, as he concluded by reaffirming his vision for a more competent and caring government: “#WeLeadBetter.”