via ‘Policy needed to tame traffic jungle’ by Veneranda Langa October 14, 2013
JUSTICE, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs minister Emmerson Mnangagwa last week blamed the sharp rise in road traffic accidents to sanctions imposed by Western countries against President Robert Mugabe and members of his inner cabal.
He also blamed the rapid increase in vehicle volumes without a corresponding policy change and expansion of the road infrastructure for causing road carnage.
Mnangangwa who is also leader of government business in Parliament said there was urgent need to craft a comprehensive policy to tame the traffic jungle.
He was responding to a question by Masvingo senator Misheck Marava who wanted to know if government had lifted the ban on use of ex-Japanese secondhand vehicles as public transport vehicles.
“The minister will be aware that we have witnessed a lot of carnage on our roads — the major culprits have been the conventional minibuses and the entry into the transport business by small ex-Japanese vehicles, mainly the Ipsums and Noahs,” Marava said. “Last year his (Mnangagwa)’s ministry issued a statement banning the operations of these small vehicles and this led to their disappearance from our roads. Has there been a change of policy with regards to the licensing and operations of these vehicles?”
Mnangagwa said the question of road carnage was of great concern to government.
He said sanctions had seen the country fail to maintain its road infrastructure.
“However, the last three years have seen a resurgence of some economic growth and efforts are now being made on some roads,” Mnangagwa said.
“Those who come from Bulawayo know that a lot of progress has been made by the Ministry of Transport on the construction of the road from Plumtree-Bulawayo-Gweru and now to Harare. That has now improved the state of the roads, as well as widening the roads in our country.”
He said government had already approved schemes to do the same for several other major highways including the Beitbridge- Masvingo, Harare-Chirundu, Mutare-Harare, Bulawayo-Victoria Falls and Harare-Chirundu roads.
“We do not think that the question of issuing of licenses is at the core of the accidents on our roads. We believe that there has been a growth from the economy in terms of motor vehicles on our roads without a corresponding expansion of infrastructure to accommodate the growth of that volume of traffic on our roads,” he said.
COMMENTS
The Minister OF Justice is dead right. There is need to expand these roads that were meant for the few colonialists then but now almost every Zimbo is driving and the traffic congestion and level of accidents. I believe revenues being realised are adequate to address the challenge and therefore lets have all toll gate monies directed to road development and nothing else.
Seems every ministry was affected by this Malaise, hence no roads, no water, no electricity. Understand one thing all infrastructure needs forward thinking and planning. Under Smith new roads were built and existing roads enlarged, according to projected usage. Obviously since 1980 there has only been looting and no planning (except for a new road to Bob’s house)
RUBBISH! WAS SHE!
Decentralise some services from harare first,traffic jams are affecting harare only in zimbabwe because everything is in harare
Songa you are dead right.These roads should have been improved since 1980. But who was in power for 33 years who did not improve the infrastructure? You dont seem to have any idea about roads.Tollgate money is for administration and maintenance . Infrastructure requires real money from investors and diamond money from the state.
Hanzi every one in Zimbabwe when registered vehicles are les than 500 000. Hanzi ma sactions anotitadzisa kugadzira ma road, lol vanofunga kuti pasina pa travel bans mari inongono nhongwa muvu paLondon apo,lol. Without capacity to repay madebts, with or without travel bans, hapana mari inouya va Munangagwa.
Hanzi every one in Zimbabwe is driving when registered vehicles are les than 500 000. Hanzi ma sactions anotitadzisa kugadzira ma road, lol vanofunga kuti pasina pa travel bans mari inongono nhongwa muvu paLondon apo,lol. Without capacity to repay madebts, with or without travel bans, hapana mari inouya va Munangagwa.
Songa you are dead right.These roads should have been improved since 1980. But who was in power for 33 years who did not improve the infrastructure? You dont seem to have any idea about roads.Tollgate money is for administration and maintenance . Infrastructure requires real money from investors and diamond money from the state.
Grrr ! the old Zanu PF habit of blaming someone else… anybody but themselves.
Zanu PF are in power after elections which many consider as stolen. Did they want power so that they can complain about sanctions?
Just get on with your job and stop whining.
liars and idiots
all this has been attributed to the corruption rampant in the country. it is that corruption that has offered a platform for the so called big guyz to loot and forget what their main priorities are.
Bring back a well run Zupco and take all combis off the roads