HARARE
–
President
Emmerson
Mnangagwa
has
declared
the
Manyame
Bridge
crash
that
killed
17
people
a
national
disaster
and
ordered
a
sweeping
crackdown
on
reckless
driving,
calling
for
a
unified
response
from
law
enforcement
and
the
courts.
The
president
said
he
was
“horrified”
by
the
crash,
which
occurred
Tuesday
along
Chitungwiza
Road
when
a
South
Africa-registered
haulage
truck
collided
head-on
with
a
commuter
omnibus
headed
to
St
Mary’s.
Among
the
dead
were
two
children
and
two
pedestrians,
witnesses
said.
“The
crash…
painfully
reminds
us
as
a
Nation
of
the
multiple
hazards
which
continue
to
stalk
our
roads,
many
of
which
can
easily
be
prevented
through
responsible
driving
and
effective
enforcement
of
traffic
rules,”
Mnangagwa
said
in
a
strongly
worded
statement.
“We
cannot
continue
to
lose
lives
in
this
most
horrendous
way
due
to
sheer
recklessness
and
persistent
gaps
in
law
enforcement,”
he
added.
A
truck
heading
towards
Harare
veered
into
the
opposite
lane
on
July
22
and
collided
with
a
kombi
after
the
driver
lost
control
on
the
road
linking
Harare
and
Seke.
Before
the
impact,
the
truck
struck
two
pedestrians
walking
on
a
strip
in
the
middle
of
the
road.
Mnangagwa
directed
that
all
relevant
government
institutions,
including
traffic
police
and
the
judiciary,
align
their
operations
to
enforce
stronger
measures
without
fear
or
favour.
He
warned
that
the
cost
of
reckless
driving
must
“outweigh
whatever
bizarre
benefits
those
responsible
think
they
derive.”
Under
the
disaster
declaration,
government
will
cover
funeral
expenses
for
the
deceased
and
hospital
bills
for
the
injured.
The
president’s
remarks
come
as
the
country
prepares
to
observe
Heroes
and
Defence
Forces
holidays.
He
urged
all
motorists
to
exercise
caution.
“Together,
and
through
a
shared
sense
of
responsibility,
we
will
tame
what
has
now
become
a
bloody
traffic
jungle
on
our
roads
and
thoroughfares,”
Mnangagwa
said.