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By Elvis Dumba
The emergency road rehabilitation program 2 currently being carried out nationwide as spearheaded by the Zimbabwe National Road Administration (ZINARA) has brought some relief to the motoring public who were complaining over the poor state of roads.
Through the road rehabilitation programme, most roads are being rehabilitated and being reconstructed to allow smooth passage for motorists as most of these roads were littered with potholes.
The program is also being implemented in most townships across the country.
Whilst the development has brought cheer to motorists, it has also brought a new headache especially for residents in high-density townships where speeding vehicles have become a threat to young children.
In Banket, a nine-year-old boy recently died after sustaining serious head injuries in a hit and run road accident in the township by an unlicensed driver.
“We are happy that the roads are now good for vehicles but at the same time, we now fear for the safety of our children. Some drivers do not slow down when driving in residential areas where children will be playing on the roads,” Naomi Kwenda, a local resident said.
Kwenda said before the road rehabilitation motorists would travel at low speed as the state of roads would not allow for speeding and suggested that authoritative should put many road humps and other speed-limiting infrastructures.
“We have witnessed an increase of speeding motorists, especially from some unlicensed drivers. This behavior is a threat to the safety of our children and we have already lost a child after he was hit by a speeding car whilst they were playing whilst after school,” Tracy Zezai said.
Richard Muganhiri, the Ward 23 Councillor said they have received numerous requests for the construction of humps around the township to minimize speeding vehicles.
“We have engaged the road construction company to establish speed limits such as humps and grids to help control vehicles from speeding. We call upon the police to act on the increased number of unlicensed drivers who use these roads disregarding road regulations as children are usually on these roads. Whilst efforts are being made to ensure that the roads are safe, parents should also monitor their children and teach them roads rules,” he told this publication.
Unlicenced drivers with some as young as twelve are a common feature in high-density townships. They take advantage of the absence of traffic police on these roads. Parents should desist from sending their unlicenced children on driving errands.
