By Ziyah News Editor
President Emmerson Mnangagwa has sent a condolence message following the horrific accident at Sebakwe River along the Harare-Bulawayo highway, which claimed 12 lives. The accident involved a fuel tanker, an articulated van, and another lorry, and the President expressed his sadness over the incident, which adds to the many headlining road traffic accidents in the country.
“I learned with a heavy heart of the horrific traffic collision yesterday in Midlands, which claimed 12 innocent lives. The deadly incident adds yet another grim statistic to the needless toll that reckless driving levies on our people,” said the President in his condolence message.
He urged all road users to exercise caution and work hand-in-glove with law enforcement agencies to deal with the traffic menace afflicting the nation.
“The duty for safe traffic conduct squarely falls on all road users, while the responsibility to call out reckless road users includes the general public, who should support our law enforcement agencies to tame what has essentially become a traffic jungle.”
The President has moved to grant the incident national disaster status to pave the way for the speedy release of resources to deal with the consequences of the accident.
“I have since directed the responsible arms of my Government to declare this traffic accident a national disaster. This crucial legal step paves the way for Government to move in and take full responsibility for the interment of all those who perished in the accident and for support to those hospitalized.”
Road carnage has become a cause for concern in the country, with accidents continuing to occur across the country’s roads, claiming lives, and human error often cited as the cause. The Sebakwe accident comes barely months after the country witnessed another horrific crash on the Masvingo-Beitbridge highway, which claimed 26 lives.