THE tragic accident that claimed the lives of more than 50 people in Rusape brings many questions to the fore.
These questions come in two parts.
Let me first convey my condolences to the families of the deceased while at the same time wishing those who were injured in that horror crash a speedy recovery.
How did this fatal accident happen?
Was the driver who caused the fatal crash properly qualified to drive a bus?
Did the bus pass fitness tests from the Vehicle Inspection Department (VID)?
Are public transport operators employing qualified people?
Is our road infrastructure fit enough to cater for the huge traffic volumes that we witness on a daily basis?
It is clear from the graphic illustration that has been released by the Zimbabwe Republic Police that the driver of the Smart Express bus was speeding.
This is according to a survivor who told The Saturday Herald that he had promised to pick up a certain woman for a tryst in Marondera at 6pm.
Now, because this driver was rushing to pick up this woman, it meant he had to meet the deadline he had set for himself.
Recklessness is what caused this fatal crash.
The Smart Express bus was trying to overtake where prohibitive road signs are clear.
Has anyone checked his credentials?
That is the yet-to-be-told story in this scandal. And this entails that certain laws which regulate speed limits be enforced.
These laws are in place but they are simply not being adhered to.
We see this in the CBD day-in-day-out where the so-called ‘mushikashikas’ and commuter omnibus drivers have effectively become a law unto themselves.
All we hear is mere talk with very little action from the relevant authorities.
They violate all stipulated road rules, putting the lives of passengers and the public at risk but nothing, it seems, is being done to curb this menace.
The tragedy is, not only will the drivers of these death traps be drunk, the majority of them do not have licences or are underage. It is high time the full wrath of the law descents heavily on these people.
The lives of passengers and the general public must be protected by the law at any given time — and at all costs.
Unqualified and underage drivers must be taken off the wheel as a matter urgency, while those who violate road regulations must be severely punished.
This brings us to the issue of our road infrastructure.
There is no doubt that most of the infrastructure is now way past its sell-by date and it needs revamping. Our roads are in desperate and dire need of revamping and rehabilitation.
The good thing is that President Emmerson Mnangagwa has prioritised infrastructure rehabilitation and development as one his Government’s key areas.
Action must begin now!
In the same vein, we ask about the role that the social media is playing in society.
Is it doing us any good or is it causing us harm?
It was a sad and sorry sight to see images of dead people splashed all over social media.
People must exercise restraint and have empathy.
Let us guard against hurting other people’s feelings.