This accident could have been avoided

THE fatal road accident that killed two council workers near 22 Miles along the Mutare-Masvingo Highway makes sad reading. News of the tragic incident which occurred close to 40km away from the city centre shocked many as it was unexpected.

We mourn with families that lost their loved ones and we pray that they find comfort in these difficult moments.

Council promised to play its part and help the bereaved families bury the deceased with the respect and honour they deserve.

As we mourn the departed and have high hopes for a brighter future, we should take lessons from the events leading to the tragic incident.

Life is precious, we only live once. Therefore, it should be preserved and protected.

Those who survived the crash have vivid memories of what actually transpired to warrant a high speed chase of that magnitude.

But the question on everyone’s lips is: Was it necessary for the council tow truck to chase the commuter omnibus that far?

Getting out of the city’s area of jurisdiction all in the name of wanting to effect an arrest?

We do not condone the alleged misdemeanours the kombi driver could have done. We are strongly against reactionary activities that endanger lives.

Had the council cops did the honourable and aborted the dangerous cat-and-mouse game, their two colleagues could be living happily with their families today.

We are told that the tow truck chased the kombi that far because they wanted to rescue their colleague who had been ‘kidnapped’ by the kombi crew.

Those conversant with the goings-on at bus termini revealed that the traffic enforcement officers who will be clad in civilian attire sneak into a kombi they find flouting traffic regulations. They pretend to be genuine com- muters and once inside the kombi they tell the crew that they are under arrest.

More often than not, the kombi drivers speed off with the arresting officer inside and this they term ‘kidnapping’.

Yes, their colleague could have been ‘kidnapped’ but that did not warrant a dangerous high speed chase. Spare a thought for other road users who will be at the mercy of the speeding vehicles.

There was no way those well known kombi crews were going to harm the council employee. One way or the other, that ‘kidnapped’ officer was eventually going to find himself home without the tow truck in hot pursuit.

We hope that the city’s traffic enforcement officers take a leaf from how the ZRP traffic police officers are now behaving under the new political dispensation.

Traffic cops who were notorious for throwing spikes and chasing after kombis are now a behaved lot. They are now taming the traffic jungle professionally by valuing the lives of passengers.

All vehicles have number plates and fleeing motorists will eventually be apprehended if the registration numbers are taken down and follow ups made.

Instead of sneaking into kombis in a bid to make arrests, why can’t they simply clamp the vehicles? A clamped vehicle is not dangerous because it can’t drive off.

The cat-and-mouse game is dangerous. What if the fully loaded fleeing kombi had overturned with more than 20 passengers on board? The incident could have been bigger than we can imagine.

It is not disputable that the kombi driver could have acted unlawfully and is equally to blame for evading arrest, but the reaction from the council cops is questionable.

The duty of these cops is to de-congest the city and bring order. This movie style traffic enforcement approach is highly dangerous.

Let’s value life.