Thursday, 28th April 2011
Howzit
On Sunday evening, my wife and I retired to bed early and I lay in bed watching some programme on television. The street we live on is relatively quiet, being a small close with a pedestrian 'jitty' (walkway) to the next street.
Shouting in the street at night is not uncommon as people leaving the nearby pub in the evening tend to talk a little bit louder than usual.
So, initially, when I heard shouting in the street, I didn't think very much of it, but became concerned when the shouting was accompanied by a car hooting. I came through to our lounge, but did not turn on the light. I pulled back one curtain to see what was happening. A vehicle was parked in the street a short way down from our house and had already turned around.
I saw one of the residents in the street walk out of his house, and, having just passed on information to our foreign neighbours of the senseless murder of a Polish man on the other side of town, I thought that perhaps the shouting may have something to do with that.
The neighbour is a very tall man and is Polish.
A few minutes later I heard a police helicopter in the immediate area, and was astonished to see the 'nightlight' being shone down on our street.
And then, about half an hour later, a low-loader pulled into the street and loaded the vehicle up and drove away. I noted that it was a local cab company car.
Having heard nothing more, or seen anything else, I returned to bed.
This article was in the local newspaper yesterday morning:
Unreal!
Shouting in the street at night is not uncommon as people leaving the nearby pub in the evening tend to talk a little bit louder than usual.
So, initially, when I heard shouting in the street, I didn't think very much of it, but became concerned when the shouting was accompanied by a car hooting. I came through to our lounge, but did not turn on the light. I pulled back one curtain to see what was happening. A vehicle was parked in the street a short way down from our house and had already turned around.
I saw one of the residents in the street walk out of his house, and, having just passed on information to our foreign neighbours of the senseless murder of a Polish man on the other side of town, I thought that perhaps the shouting may have something to do with that.
The neighbour is a very tall man and is Polish.
A few minutes later I heard a police helicopter in the immediate area, and was astonished to see the 'nightlight' being shone down on our street.
And then, about half an hour later, a low-loader pulled into the street and loaded the vehicle up and drove away. I noted that it was a local cab company car.
Having heard nothing more, or seen anything else, I returned to bed.
This article was in the local newspaper yesterday morning:
Unreal!-o00o-
The wife and I were in town yesterday (I won a gift voucher from the local newspaper for their 'Letter of the Week' a fortnight ago and we were off to go see what was available).
We also decided to cross town to look at a specific want my wife had. En route, we walked past the company that I used to visit each week as they specialised in securing employment for disabled people. (I stopped going to them as, after two years, I hadn't even been asked to attend one interview with any prospective employer. I cannot be that unemployable.)
The office was closed and a notice on the door and window informed people that the office had closed as government funding had been stopped.
I am not really that surprised...
We also decided to cross town to look at a specific want my wife had. En route, we walked past the company that I used to visit each week as they specialised in securing employment for disabled people. (I stopped going to them as, after two years, I hadn't even been asked to attend one interview with any prospective employer. I cannot be that unemployable.)
The office was closed and a notice on the door and window informed people that the office had closed as government funding had been stopped.
I am not really that surprised...
-o00o-
We continued along to the store that my wife wanted to visit. I stood patiently waiting for my wife as she had a look at what plants were for sale. I already had two plants she wanted on top of her shopping trolley.
An elderly male approached me and began telling me that I would be better advised to take the number 41 bus and visit B&Q where the plants were cheaper...
He then made himself scarce as my wife approached.
I then was told by my wife that the individual was the same man that had set himself up at the railway station to collect during the poppy appeal - he represents no Royal British Legion club and was selling aged and old poppies and badges - and, when he had be accosted by our committee members, he chose to swear at them.
The same individual was reported to me as having set up shop outside a well-known shop in town a good couple of months after the appeal had finished - selling poppies!
Have no fear, I alerted the shop supervisors to his presence and, once we had been served, we left the shop.
I find it quite objectionable that such an individual feels it is perfectly alright to take money from the unsuspecting public pretending to be something that he is not, and then, to take it upon himself to enter one shop to tell patrons and customers that goods are available elsewhere at a cheaper price.
The absolute cheek of it!
An elderly male approached me and began telling me that I would be better advised to take the number 41 bus and visit B&Q where the plants were cheaper...
He then made himself scarce as my wife approached.
I then was told by my wife that the individual was the same man that had set himself up at the railway station to collect during the poppy appeal - he represents no Royal British Legion club and was selling aged and old poppies and badges - and, when he had be accosted by our committee members, he chose to swear at them.
The same individual was reported to me as having set up shop outside a well-known shop in town a good couple of months after the appeal had finished - selling poppies!
Have no fear, I alerted the shop supervisors to his presence and, once we had been served, we left the shop.
I find it quite objectionable that such an individual feels it is perfectly alright to take money from the unsuspecting public pretending to be something that he is not, and then, to take it upon himself to enter one shop to tell patrons and customers that goods are available elsewhere at a cheaper price.
The absolute cheek of it!
-o00o-
Stories of true justice is Zimbabwe are few and far between. So when we do see something approaching the ideal, we tend to celebrate...
"MDC-T chairperson for Honde Ward 30, Jacob Matsotse came out of Mutare magistrate courts a free man after local magistrate Fabien Feshete acquitted him for allegedly contravening the draconian Public Order and Security Act (POSA).
Matsotse was arrested on November 28 in Mandeya, Honde Valley and charged with contravening section 25(5) (b) of POSA for allegedly failing to notify the police of intent to hold 1 public gathering. Prosecutors accused Matsotse for holding a political meeting without notifying the police, who are the regulatory authority.
Magistrate Feshete recently acquitted Matsotse after his lawyer Blessing Nyamaropa of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) applied for discharge at the close of state case.
Feshete agreed with submissions by Matsotse`s lawyers that state failed to prove that the meeting convened by villagers was not a public meeting as defined by POSA. In a related case, Rusape magistrate Taurai Manwere acquitted four Rusape residents who were arrested in July last year together with six others for allegedly assaulting and disrupting an investigative meeting that had been organised by Minister of Local Government, Urban and Rural Development, Ignatius Chombo.
Their acquittal also came after their lawyers of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights applied for their discharge at the close of state. The trial of the remaining six will continue later."
At least some magistrate's have their heads screwed on properly, but they risk sort sort of revenge for not prolonging the case or finding the accused person guilty. Such is the remit in ZANU PF.
"MDC-T chairperson for Honde Ward 30, Jacob Matsotse came out of Mutare magistrate courts a free man after local magistrate Fabien Feshete acquitted him for allegedly contravening the draconian Public Order and Security Act (POSA).
Matsotse was arrested on November 28 in Mandeya, Honde Valley and charged with contravening section 25(5) (b) of POSA for allegedly failing to notify the police of intent to hold 1 public gathering. Prosecutors accused Matsotse for holding a political meeting without notifying the police, who are the regulatory authority.
Magistrate Feshete recently acquitted Matsotse after his lawyer Blessing Nyamaropa of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) applied for discharge at the close of state case.
Feshete agreed with submissions by Matsotse`s lawyers that state failed to prove that the meeting convened by villagers was not a public meeting as defined by POSA. In a related case, Rusape magistrate Taurai Manwere acquitted four Rusape residents who were arrested in July last year together with six others for allegedly assaulting and disrupting an investigative meeting that had been organised by Minister of Local Government, Urban and Rural Development, Ignatius Chombo.
Their acquittal also came after their lawyers of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights applied for their discharge at the close of state. The trial of the remaining six will continue later."
At least some magistrate's have their heads screwed on properly, but they risk sort sort of revenge for not prolonging the case or finding the accused person guilty. Such is the remit in ZANU PF.
-o00o-
Sadly, common sense in the courts is tempered with events on the ground.
Some members of the MDC seem intent on breaking down the common goal of achieving change without resorting to violence.
"The violence that has accompanied the internal MDC election campaign has left a sour taste in the mouth. This is the sort of thing we expect from ZANU PF - not from the party that carries all our hopes for democracy and peace.
The people’s party must lead by example.
We call upon the party leadership to act firmly, decisively and quickly to stamp this out. Stern action must be taken against anyone who uses violence as a means to gain power or position - no matter who is involved."
Some members of the MDC seem intent on breaking down the common goal of achieving change without resorting to violence.
"The violence that has accompanied the internal MDC election campaign has left a sour taste in the mouth. This is the sort of thing we expect from ZANU PF - not from the party that carries all our hopes for democracy and peace.
The people’s party must lead by example.
We call upon the party leadership to act firmly, decisively and quickly to stamp this out. Stern action must be taken against anyone who uses violence as a means to gain power or position - no matter who is involved."
-o00o-
As the Zimbabwean economy began to spiral out of control, a great many Zimbabweans, of all races, creeds and cultures opted to leave the country for greener pastures. But that is not to say they left their interests behind and metamorphosed into something else.
Many of us, whilst we attempt to eke out a living on foreign shores, remain distinctly interested in events and politics in Zimbabwe, and, if we could, would be more directly involved.
So, when the MDC congress in Bulawayo ignores the diaspora nominations, then I think something has gone horribly wrong...
"MDC Diaspora structures are outraged that their nominations for national candidates ahead of the party’s third National Congress that opens in Bulawayo on Thursday have been contemptuously ignored.
This follows an MDC National Executive directive that the Diaspora structures would not be allowed to nominate candidates even though all the three External Assemblies were elevated to provincial status through amendments made to the MDC Constitution in 2006.
"We believe this decision is arbitrary, political and unconstitutional," said Tonderai Samanyanga, the MDC UK and Ireland chairman, who said he was also speaking on behalf of MDC UK, USA and SA branches. "The MDC external structures which had been contributing financially, morally and politically to the party without any recognition prior to the 2006 Congress, lobbied the party to be recognised, and the relevant constitutional changes were made which recognised external assemblies in 2006.
"The constitutional changes were passed by the MDC’s second congress and incorporated into the constitution - making the MDC external assembly structure, for all intents and purposes, the same as that of Provinces in Zimbabwe, with slight variations (Article 5 section 5.8.12).
"There now seems to be a concerted and nefarious effort to disenfranchise the external assemblies, by denying them the right to nominate national candidates." MDC spokesman Nelson Chamisa said: "We don’t communicate party business through the Press. We have clear elaborate communication structures and mechanisms within the party. We respect those structures. We don’t want to waste time communicating through the Press. All genuine members with genuine concerns will raise them through the party.
"We are ready for the congress expecting delegates from the 12 provinces as well as delegates from External Assemblies. It’s going to be one of the best internally organized democratic elections." But Samanyanga said he was shocked his party was excluding the Diaspora from internal democratic processes. "The nomination has become crucial because apparently the process has now been changed to say whoever has the most nominations becomes the winner, without any voting. So the fact that we have been told that we can attend the Congress as voters, but without nominations, means we are disenfranchised."
"It was only when we were inquiring why we had not received the nominations papers which we had been promised several weeks ago that we were told that a decision had been made by the National Executive that we would not be allowed to nominate, but we can vote. It was never communicated in writing."
My knee jerk reaction is to withdraw any support for the party from the diaspora until their status is ratified and accepted. But, as Zimbabwean politics goes, it will all be glossed over and forgotten about poste haste.
Sometimes Zimbabwean politics is totally confusing, incredibly baffling and hugely disappointing. By now, we should be used to it.
Many of us, whilst we attempt to eke out a living on foreign shores, remain distinctly interested in events and politics in Zimbabwe, and, if we could, would be more directly involved.
So, when the MDC congress in Bulawayo ignores the diaspora nominations, then I think something has gone horribly wrong...
"MDC Diaspora structures are outraged that their nominations for national candidates ahead of the party’s third National Congress that opens in Bulawayo on Thursday have been contemptuously ignored.
This follows an MDC National Executive directive that the Diaspora structures would not be allowed to nominate candidates even though all the three External Assemblies were elevated to provincial status through amendments made to the MDC Constitution in 2006.
"We believe this decision is arbitrary, political and unconstitutional," said Tonderai Samanyanga, the MDC UK and Ireland chairman, who said he was also speaking on behalf of MDC UK, USA and SA branches. "The MDC external structures which had been contributing financially, morally and politically to the party without any recognition prior to the 2006 Congress, lobbied the party to be recognised, and the relevant constitutional changes were made which recognised external assemblies in 2006.
"The constitutional changes were passed by the MDC’s second congress and incorporated into the constitution - making the MDC external assembly structure, for all intents and purposes, the same as that of Provinces in Zimbabwe, with slight variations (Article 5 section 5.8.12).
"There now seems to be a concerted and nefarious effort to disenfranchise the external assemblies, by denying them the right to nominate national candidates." MDC spokesman Nelson Chamisa said: "We don’t communicate party business through the Press. We have clear elaborate communication structures and mechanisms within the party. We respect those structures. We don’t want to waste time communicating through the Press. All genuine members with genuine concerns will raise them through the party.
"We are ready for the congress expecting delegates from the 12 provinces as well as delegates from External Assemblies. It’s going to be one of the best internally organized democratic elections." But Samanyanga said he was shocked his party was excluding the Diaspora from internal democratic processes. "The nomination has become crucial because apparently the process has now been changed to say whoever has the most nominations becomes the winner, without any voting. So the fact that we have been told that we can attend the Congress as voters, but without nominations, means we are disenfranchised."
"It was only when we were inquiring why we had not received the nominations papers which we had been promised several weeks ago that we were told that a decision had been made by the National Executive that we would not be allowed to nominate, but we can vote. It was never communicated in writing."
My knee jerk reaction is to withdraw any support for the party from the diaspora until their status is ratified and accepted. But, as Zimbabwean politics goes, it will all be glossed over and forgotten about poste haste.
Sometimes Zimbabwean politics is totally confusing, incredibly baffling and hugely disappointing. By now, we should be used to it.
-o00o-
Not just the MDC are experiencing problems within their party. ZANU PF is still smarting from the figurative bloody nose handed to them by the MDC in the parliamentary elections in 2008 which saw Mugabe's party lose the majority for the first time since 1980.
And the difference is that ZANU PF's reaction - three years after the event - are promising to root out those that voted for the MDC and 'punish' them.
Now, this is not the reaction of a 'democractic' government or party - something which Mugabe repeats often and loudly. How can the Mugabe party decide that the people need to be punished for their voting choice?
In a democracy, that is not an option.
"ZANU PF politburo member and Higher and Tertiary Education Minister, Stan Mudenge has promised his party leader, Robert Mugabe to hunt down and punish people who voted for MDC leader and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai in 2008.
Speaking during Mugabe’s official opening of Zimbabwe Christian Church (ZCC) $2 billion multi-purpose Conference Centre at Mbungo estates in Masvingo North, Mudenge assured his ageing leader that party youths would fish out all the people who voted against ZANU PF and deal with them accordingly.
Mudenge, the local MP, blamed the locals for turning against their backs on ZANU PF leading to Mugabe’s embarrassing defeat Mugabe by arch-rival Tsvangirai for the first time in history."
Punish them 'accordingly' could be anything from a serious beating, eviction from their houses and districts, charging them with manufactured criminal charges, or even death. This is not the action of a remedial party. This is the action of an angered dictatorial deposed party...
The threat of violence is never very far away in Zimbabwe. And for an MP to make the promise publicly is the epitome of the ZANU PF remit.
They haven't yet worked out that a vote for the MDC is not a vote against the Mugabe party. The people, who have been disappointed and let down for 28 years, voted for their own choice - their democratic right - but Mudenge believes that those that voted for the MDC should be punished.
Just how they intend to do this witch hunt, I am not altogether sure, but they assure Mugabe it will be done.
Here in the UK, ballot papers are numbered and so there is a simple paper trail. So much for a secret vote. I never voted once in Zimbabwe, so I do not know if papers are numbered or referenced. But I am sure there is a way to bring the evidence to show who voted for what.
“President, I want to tell you that some people in my constituency have rebelled and they voted against you in 2008. They are now supporting the puppet party MDC but I want to say that we will flush them out and deal with them until they come back to us and do things our way," Mudenge said.
Mudenge boasted that ZANU PF youths, with the help of the partisan Zimbabwe defence forces, would crack down on all those suspected of neglecting Mugabe in 2008 as a lesson to those who wished to do the same this year. "We have a very forceful and vigorous youth wing and our members of the armed forces who will make sure that no one loses direction again like what happened three years ago. Those who did it will be punished severely by our active young man and women who know the importance of keeping our leader in power," added Mudenge."
I find that the promise to crack down on MDC voters is just about as far from democracy as could be.
And the difference is that ZANU PF's reaction - three years after the event - are promising to root out those that voted for the MDC and 'punish' them.
Now, this is not the reaction of a 'democractic' government or party - something which Mugabe repeats often and loudly. How can the Mugabe party decide that the people need to be punished for their voting choice?
In a democracy, that is not an option.
"ZANU PF politburo member and Higher and Tertiary Education Minister, Stan Mudenge has promised his party leader, Robert Mugabe to hunt down and punish people who voted for MDC leader and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai in 2008.
Speaking during Mugabe’s official opening of Zimbabwe Christian Church (ZCC) $2 billion multi-purpose Conference Centre at Mbungo estates in Masvingo North, Mudenge assured his ageing leader that party youths would fish out all the people who voted against ZANU PF and deal with them accordingly.
Mudenge, the local MP, blamed the locals for turning against their backs on ZANU PF leading to Mugabe’s embarrassing defeat Mugabe by arch-rival Tsvangirai for the first time in history."
Punish them 'accordingly' could be anything from a serious beating, eviction from their houses and districts, charging them with manufactured criminal charges, or even death. This is not the action of a remedial party. This is the action of an angered dictatorial deposed party...
The threat of violence is never very far away in Zimbabwe. And for an MP to make the promise publicly is the epitome of the ZANU PF remit.
They haven't yet worked out that a vote for the MDC is not a vote against the Mugabe party. The people, who have been disappointed and let down for 28 years, voted for their own choice - their democratic right - but Mudenge believes that those that voted for the MDC should be punished.
Just how they intend to do this witch hunt, I am not altogether sure, but they assure Mugabe it will be done.
Here in the UK, ballot papers are numbered and so there is a simple paper trail. So much for a secret vote. I never voted once in Zimbabwe, so I do not know if papers are numbered or referenced. But I am sure there is a way to bring the evidence to show who voted for what.
“President, I want to tell you that some people in my constituency have rebelled and they voted against you in 2008. They are now supporting the puppet party MDC but I want to say that we will flush them out and deal with them until they come back to us and do things our way," Mudenge said.
Mudenge boasted that ZANU PF youths, with the help of the partisan Zimbabwe defence forces, would crack down on all those suspected of neglecting Mugabe in 2008 as a lesson to those who wished to do the same this year. "We have a very forceful and vigorous youth wing and our members of the armed forces who will make sure that no one loses direction again like what happened three years ago. Those who did it will be punished severely by our active young man and women who know the importance of keeping our leader in power," added Mudenge."
I find that the promise to crack down on MDC voters is just about as far from democracy as could be.
-o00o-
Rather like stating the obvious, but sometimes things have to be laid bare before some of the more blinkered people that run the free world see the truth.
"Wellington Chibebe the Secretary General of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) has described the police move to ban May day marches in Kwekwe and Mutare as a clear indication that the country has become a police state.
Police in Mutare and Kwekwe imposed a ban on processions to mark the celebrated May Day when workers reflect on their labour and also air freely their demands. Chibebe said that as a union his organisation does not need the permission of the police to carry out processions.
"We are a trade union and we are allowed to march when we want to and we don't have to seek permission to do so instead we just notify them," said Chibebe. Last month in Bulawayo the police arrested members of ZCTU in Bulawayo as they marched in commemorating mother's day."
ZANU PF are aware that the MDC as a political party emerged from the ZCTU, their leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, coming from the top rank of the ZCTU.
However, Chibebe does have a point. ZANU PF are permitted to congregate wherever and whenever, whilst the MDC (and any other political parties), the ZCTU, WOZA and other civil organisations have to apply to the police - a veritable pro-Mugabe institution - for permission to hold the event. Nine times out of ten, that application is denied.
"And Chibebe says that banning rallies and arrests of workers are only but a demonstration that the country has relapsed into a police state. "It is not police business to interfere with trade union work. Such actions show that we are now a police state. We are going to take corrective measures so that our workers are not prohibited from marching to mark this crucial event."
"Wellington Chibebe the Secretary General of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) has described the police move to ban May day marches in Kwekwe and Mutare as a clear indication that the country has become a police state.
Police in Mutare and Kwekwe imposed a ban on processions to mark the celebrated May Day when workers reflect on their labour and also air freely their demands. Chibebe said that as a union his organisation does not need the permission of the police to carry out processions.
"We are a trade union and we are allowed to march when we want to and we don't have to seek permission to do so instead we just notify them," said Chibebe. Last month in Bulawayo the police arrested members of ZCTU in Bulawayo as they marched in commemorating mother's day."
ZANU PF are aware that the MDC as a political party emerged from the ZCTU, their leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, coming from the top rank of the ZCTU.
However, Chibebe does have a point. ZANU PF are permitted to congregate wherever and whenever, whilst the MDC (and any other political parties), the ZCTU, WOZA and other civil organisations have to apply to the police - a veritable pro-Mugabe institution - for permission to hold the event. Nine times out of ten, that application is denied.
"And Chibebe says that banning rallies and arrests of workers are only but a demonstration that the country has relapsed into a police state. "It is not police business to interfere with trade union work. Such actions show that we are now a police state. We are going to take corrective measures so that our workers are not prohibited from marching to mark this crucial event."
-o00o-
Roads in Zimbabwe have become a treacherous affair. Maintenance is something which the Mugabe governments of old have overlooked - although the road to his rural home is kept in pristine condition.
When I lived and worked in Zimbabwe, I used to do an amazing amount of driving. I used to ply the Bulawayo-Esigodini highway, the Bulawayo-Plumtree highway and also the Bulawayo-Gwanda road.
Then, as a civilian, I used to travel all over the Harare industrial sites, also venturing to the mines around Harare - Shamva, Chinhoyi, Mutoroshanga - and then, when I lived in Chiredzi, along the newly built route from Buffalo Range to Jerera and then up to Chivhu and the last 140 kilometres into Harare on the Masvingo road.
Then I was transferred to Mutare and used to often have to drive to Harare, or Penhalonga, Chipinge and down as far as Chisumbanje.
In all my years of driving, I only had three accidents. One was totally my fault, writing-off a police pick-up rushing back to Plumtree from Bulawayo, another being 'fender bender' when an army vehicle reversed into my police vehicle and the last being when an articulated vehicle turning right around me, cutting the corner and crunching my company Alpha Sud in the process.
I no longer drive as I have to pass my driver's licence again, this time as a disabled driver (driving an automatic, even though I owned and drove a 2 litre BMW automatic back home) and it just does not prove cost effective.
Having said all that, recently I happened across a photograph of the truck that collided with Morgan Tsvangirai's 4x4 a few years ago, causing it to leave the road and crash. That crash ended up killing Tsvangirai's wife, Susan.
What caught my eye was that the damage to the truck, minor though it may be, seems to be on the left front bull bar. For the truck to have clipped Tsvangirai's vehicle and cause the damage, it needed to be way off the driving line. Like off the right hand side of the road. But, I may be wrong.
"Three more people who were travelling in an army truck that was involved in a head on collision with a Toyota Landcruiser on Monday night near the 31km peg along the Harare-Chirundu Highway have died.
This brings to seven, the number of people who perished in the accident.
Of the seven, four died on the spot, including a five-year-old boy while 11 others were injured when the accident occurred at around 5pm. Two died after being admitted at Parirenyatwa Hospital while one died at Inkomo Barracks Hospital on Monday night.
Two more deaths were recorded nationwide by end of day on Monday, bringing to 82 the number of people killed in road traffic accidents countrywide during the Easter Holiday, making it the bloodiest Easter break in recent memory.
Forty-four people perished on the roads during the four-day holiday last year.
According to police, two of the people who were injured in the Nyabira accident and believed to have been travelling in the Toyota Landcruiser were treated and discharged.
The other nine injured in the same accident were still admitted at Parirenyatwa Hospital.
Police yesterday said the army truck was travelling from Inkomo, heading towards the city while the Toyota Landcruiser was moving in the opposite direction.
The names of the deceased will be released once their relatives have been informed.
National police spokesperson Superintendent Andrew Phiri yesterday said another 536 people were injured in 497 accidents recorded during the Easter Holidays.
Harare and Mashonaland West provinces recorded the highest numbers of deaths at 17 each, followed by Mashonaland East with 14 while the province with the least deaths was Matabeleland North with one.
The causes of the accidents have been attributed to misjudgment, vehicle defects, drunken driving and speeding.
Supt Phiri said they impounded 632 unroadworthy vehicles and issued 38463 tickets.
"We would want to urge drivers to continue obeying all traffic regulations and the force will remain firm on the ground to ensure that sanity prevails," he said.
Supt Phiri said 44 drivers were arrested for drunken driving."
We also have to remember that some main highways in Zimbabwe can only be travelled upon having paid a toll. Where is the money so raised going? It certainly isn't being ploughed back into the roads in the country...
When I lived and worked in Zimbabwe, I used to do an amazing amount of driving. I used to ply the Bulawayo-Esigodini highway, the Bulawayo-Plumtree highway and also the Bulawayo-Gwanda road.
Then, as a civilian, I used to travel all over the Harare industrial sites, also venturing to the mines around Harare - Shamva, Chinhoyi, Mutoroshanga - and then, when I lived in Chiredzi, along the newly built route from Buffalo Range to Jerera and then up to Chivhu and the last 140 kilometres into Harare on the Masvingo road.
Then I was transferred to Mutare and used to often have to drive to Harare, or Penhalonga, Chipinge and down as far as Chisumbanje.
In all my years of driving, I only had three accidents. One was totally my fault, writing-off a police pick-up rushing back to Plumtree from Bulawayo, another being 'fender bender' when an army vehicle reversed into my police vehicle and the last being when an articulated vehicle turning right around me, cutting the corner and crunching my company Alpha Sud in the process.
I no longer drive as I have to pass my driver's licence again, this time as a disabled driver (driving an automatic, even though I owned and drove a 2 litre BMW automatic back home) and it just does not prove cost effective.
Having said all that, recently I happened across a photograph of the truck that collided with Morgan Tsvangirai's 4x4 a few years ago, causing it to leave the road and crash. That crash ended up killing Tsvangirai's wife, Susan.
What caught my eye was that the damage to the truck, minor though it may be, seems to be on the left front bull bar. For the truck to have clipped Tsvangirai's vehicle and cause the damage, it needed to be way off the driving line. Like off the right hand side of the road. But, I may be wrong.
This brings to seven, the number of people who perished in the accident.
Of the seven, four died on the spot, including a five-year-old boy while 11 others were injured when the accident occurred at around 5pm. Two died after being admitted at Parirenyatwa Hospital while one died at Inkomo Barracks Hospital on Monday night.
Two more deaths were recorded nationwide by end of day on Monday, bringing to 82 the number of people killed in road traffic accidents countrywide during the Easter Holiday, making it the bloodiest Easter break in recent memory.
Forty-four people perished on the roads during the four-day holiday last year.
According to police, two of the people who were injured in the Nyabira accident and believed to have been travelling in the Toyota Landcruiser were treated and discharged.
The other nine injured in the same accident were still admitted at Parirenyatwa Hospital.
Police yesterday said the army truck was travelling from Inkomo, heading towards the city while the Toyota Landcruiser was moving in the opposite direction.
The names of the deceased will be released once their relatives have been informed.
National police spokesperson Superintendent Andrew Phiri yesterday said another 536 people were injured in 497 accidents recorded during the Easter Holidays.
Harare and Mashonaland West provinces recorded the highest numbers of deaths at 17 each, followed by Mashonaland East with 14 while the province with the least deaths was Matabeleland North with one.
The causes of the accidents have been attributed to misjudgment, vehicle defects, drunken driving and speeding.
Supt Phiri said they impounded 632 unroadworthy vehicles and issued 38463 tickets.
"We would want to urge drivers to continue obeying all traffic regulations and the force will remain firm on the ground to ensure that sanity prevails," he said.
Supt Phiri said 44 drivers were arrested for drunken driving."
We also have to remember that some main highways in Zimbabwe can only be travelled upon having paid a toll. Where is the money so raised going? It certainly isn't being ploughed back into the roads in the country...
A vehicle falls foul to a giant, water-filled pothole on
Samora machel Avenue in Harare near the Holiday Inn
-o00o-
Samora machel Avenue in Harare near the Holiday Inn
-o00o-
Take care.
'debvhu
'debvhu
posted by Robb WJ Ellis at 3:13 PM
|
0 comments
Union Jack (1963 - 64, 1998 - ??)
