‘Smuggled used tyres contribute to fatal accidents’
THE spike in accidents in Zimbabwe could be due to increase in the use of smuggled second hand tyres as motorists are opting for the cheaper options due to increase in the price of new ones.
In an interview, chairman of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Transport and Infrastructural Development Cde Dexter Nduna said smuggling of tyres has serious implications on the lives of people as they easily burst, causing accidents.
“The very nature that they are second hand means they have been removed from a vehicle that is still in operation for their bad state in terms of their condition. These are now called new second hand tyres, which innovative people are just re-trading.
“They use sharp knives to remodel them, they are digging deep into the rubber of the tyre and the deeper they go into those tyres the more dangerous they become. These are the same tyres that cause accidents on the roads,” said Cde Nduna.
He urged the Government to inspect all cars coming into the country and inspect their road fitness before they are used on the roads.
“It’s not only second hand tyres being smuggled also, unroadworthy second hand cars are finding their way into the country. The ex-Japanese vehicles which are being hammered by the waters on the sea absorb as much salt as possible and they harden, when they come on shore they start crystallising or unravelling because of that salt. They then cause a lot of tyre bursts, so these are some of factors causing road carnages.
“Government should make sure that all second hand vehicles are registered at the port of entry when they come into the country. So the registration at the port of entry is going to make sure that these vehicles are also inspected of their road worthiness as there are VID and Zinara offices at all ports of entry. They should be scrutinised to make sure those tyres and cars which are not roadworthy don’t find their way into the country irrespective of where they are from,” he said.
According to residents in Chimanimani, Mozambique’s border with Zimbabwe in the area has become a hive of smuggling activity, an opportunity created by steep price increases of basics in Zimbabwe.
“Brand new tyres in Zimbabwe cost an average of US$100 each, so there is a thriving market for run-down tyres from Mozambique, which sell for US$20. But this causes dire road mishaps. Mutare streets have been flooded by the tyres which are then sold to other parts of the country.
“The high US dollar pricing of tyres at local spares shops has led individuals to rely on the smuggled old and not strong tyres from Mozambique. The goods are smuggled through a river in Chimanimani and the smuggling has drawn in children both in Mozambique and Zimbabwe who are dropping out of school to engage in the illegal trade,” said Mr Lloyd Makoni who comes from the area.
Moreover, other goods being smuggled include fuel, medicines and beverages.
Meanwhile, Cde Nduna said the Government can also install gadgets at tollgates that can help monitor the movement of cars on the roads.
“The Government should take further steps to computerise all highway and local authorities transport systems using Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) that deal with public service transport in order to curb road carnage and also ensure insurance compensation for those bereaved and injured in road traffic accidents. With such technology it will be easy to arrest errant drivers who are caught speeding. Tollgates can be used to monitor distance travelled and time taken from one tollgate to the other to produce speed used to travel that distance using the number plate identification system (NIS),” he said.
Cde Nduna also said there is a need for the establishment of proper accident victims’ stabilisation centres in order to reduce the loss of lives. “Tollgates 100km apart should be armed with reacting teams such as fire brigades, ambulances and helicopters to cover accidents between their infrastructure so as to stabilise the patients and transport them afterward to major referral hospitals.
“This can only happen after takeover of administration of the third party insurance. Already there is more than $15 million per annum taken by Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe (TSCZ) through 12 percent remittances from this insurance so it is possible to save more lives and compensate the injured and bereaved through this way,” said Cde Nduna. @preciousmaphos7
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