Accidents Injure 589 People, Kill 81, Police Reveal
29 December 2014
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Accidents countrywide during the holiday period have injured 589 people and killed over 81.
The accidents were predominantly caused by bad roads while others were due to over speeding. 59% of all the accidents were blamed on poor road maintenance due to either potholes, or lack of appropriate signage at dangerous spots. 17% of them are linked to reckless driving, while the remaining 12% was reportedly caused by unknown (yet to be established) causes.
National police spokesperson Chief Supreintendent Paul Nyathi said that the number of road accidents had risen to 1 012, indicating a 23% rise from last year’s figures.
“Over the same period, 81 people died while 589 were injured. As we prepare to celebrate the New Year (holidays), motorists are urged to continue exercising caution on the road,” he said.
 
Tickets.
Mr Nyathi added saying that the cops despite challenges carried out a successful raid on all and any offending motorists. He said that on Saturday alone they ticketed 6 978 motorists for various offences, while the holiday death toll rose to 81.
He said they had in summary issued over 96 000 tickets and impounded about 2 000 defective vehicles over the last 12 days for various traffic offences as they sought to ‘tame the traffic jungle this festive season’.
Nyathi said between December 15 and December 27, a total of 96 634 tickets were issued for various traffic offences and 2 289 vehicles impounded after they were deemed unfit to use public roads.
 
Firearm offence
The police also revealed that during the holiday period they arrested a 35-year-old man identified as Sambulelo Ndlovu for unlawful possession of a firearm which he is believed to have acquired with the intention to commit robberies in Harare.
“Circumstances are that the accused hired a taxi from Machipisa to Southley Park, Harare on December 24 2014. The driver became suspicious and drove straight to ZRP Machipisa where the accused was searched by detectives,” Nyathi said.
Nyathi added: “Upon being interviewed, the accused implicated his three accomplices who had invited him from Bulawayo to Harare intending to commit robberies. Police are conducting investigations with a view of arresting the accused’s accomplices.” Police said they recovered a 6,35 mm Rhoner Sport Waffen pistol with one round, two by two-metre-long nylon ropes, a hunter’s knife, two pairs of latex gloves and a roll of adhesive tape.