A CERTIFIED driving instructor appalled by the poor driving on the country’s road network has established a self–funded initiative to push for road safety issues after securing clearance from the Transport and Infrastructure Development ministry.
PHILLIP CHIDAVAENZI
Road Safety–Plus Institute of Zimbabwe director Emmanuel Mavunga told NewsDay yesterday that his move has found takers in government as it would complement the work done by the Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe.
“Although I started this initiative in 2010, my proposal was only accepted this year because of government’s appreciation of the scope of traffic safety problems on our roads,” Mavunga said.
The project, according to the ministry’s director of transport management, Allowance Sango, tallied with the United Nations’ efforts to curb road traffic carnage in this decade.
“Our ministry greatly appreciates such private sector initiatives, particularly in light of the United Nations Decade of Action on Road Accidents (2011-2020) and hopes that your efforts shall significantly contribute towards that common and noble endeavour,” Sango said.
Mavunga said his project was meant to increase the level of safety on the country’s roads after he lost three of his siblings to traffic accidents.
He said the initiative also embraced government’s ZimAsset blueprint as it was focused on the need to have the country’s road network transformed from a traffic jungle “to paradise” while educating road users on safe road behaviour and create employment for those who wanted to take driving as a full-time profession.
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He said plans were underway to have a television talk show where the public and experts as well as government officials would discuss road safety issues.
Mavunga said he had worked as a commuter omnibus driver, but now owned a fleet of commuter buses therefore he appreciated traffic safety issues, particularly in light of the running battles between police officers and kombi drivers.
