The Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe (TSCZ) launched a driver of the year competition among bus, truck, and kombi drivers in Manicaland province today, aiming to improve road safety and reduce road accidents across the country in alignment with the National Development Strategy 1.
In his remarks, TSCZ Managing Director Mr Munodawafa stated that the launch of the competition was a response to the ongoing road safety issues that the nation faces, with the aim of tackling these problems and improving the safety of drivers and passengers alike.
“Circumstances that occur in and around our highways have led us to conduct this very important event with the hope of curbing the nature and extent of the traffic safety problems that we face as a Nation.
“This programme therefore provides us with an opportunity of proffering solutions to the road safety challenges which have become an issue of concern to most Zimbabweans,” he said.
He added that the Driver of the Year competition was designed to reduce the incidence of truck, kombie, and bus-related road accidents, fatalities, and injuries, by providing education and encouragement for public and heavy motor vehicle drivers to improve their driving standards and consequently enhance road safety in Zimbabwe.
“Ladies and Gentlemen, The Driver of the Year competition aims to reduce the number of road fatalities and injuries involving trucks, kombies, and buses, through stimulating education amongst our public and heavy motor vehicle drivers and consequently improve the standard of public and heavy motor vehicle driving in our country.
“The competition serves as an incentive for the business sector to invest in advanced driver-training for the drivers of heavy-duty vehicles.
“Further to that, skilled drivers contribute to the saving of human lives and reduction of vehicle maintenance costs, including fleet management,” he added.
TSCZ managing director Mr Munesu Munodawafa highlighted that the Driver of the Year (DOTY) competitions have a long history across the globe since the 1960s where awards were presented to drivers competing in motorsport.
“The Driver of The Year (DOTY) competitions have a long history across the globe since the 1960s where awards were presented to drivers competing in motorsport.
“The Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe (TSCZ) holds DOTY competitions as a means for standardizing and improving driving.
“This year, we aim to continue carrying the tradition forward in rewarding good driving skills and encouraging good driving practice.
“DOTY competitions also serve as a yardstick for us to check whether drivers know the basic driving rules and how to apply them,” said Mr Munodawafa.
He said these competitions are also an important way of creating awareness about road safety and crash prevention.
“This is in line with our national target under the National Development Strategy 1, that is; to reduce road crashes, Injuries, and fatalities by 25 percent by 2025 and 50 percent by 2030. Road crashes are a major public health and safety concern in Zimbabwe, and the DOTY competitions are an opportunity to educate the public about the importance of safe driving and the need to follow traffic rules and regulations.
“These competitions are also an important way of creating awareness about road safety and crash prevention. Ladies and Gentlemen, The rationale behind the DOTY competitions is to enhance and improve the driving skills of rigid lorry, articulated truck, kombie and bus drivers in order to prevent and reduce crashes on the road. This is in line with our national target under the National Development Strategy 1, that is; to reduce road crashes, injuries, and fatalities by 50% by 2030.
Road crashes are a major public health and safety concern in Zimbabwe, and the DOTY competitions are an opportunity to educate the public about the importance of safe driving and the need to follow traffic rules and regulations,” he said.
Mr Abiot Maronge, Secretary for State and Devolution for Manicaland Province, praised TSCZ for their initiative in launching the Driver of the Year competition in the region, commending their efforts to improve road safety in the province.
“Thank you Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe for bringing the launch of this competition to Manicaland Province indeed we dont take your presence for granted.
“Manicaland like any other province is also facing traffic safety challenges,” he said.
He expressed his gratitude to the TSCZ for organizing the Driver of the Year competition, stating that the event would assist in promoting better performance and safe driving practices among drivers in Manicaland Province.
“I therefore want to thank the Traffic Safety Council for organising this competition that seeks to promote better performance of our drivers on the roads,” he said.
The participants of the Driver of the Year awards competition comprise of drivers from the security services and those operating public service vehicles, as the TSCZ aims to improve road safety standards across multiple sectors.
Several organisations participated including the ZNA led by Major Jefferson Gutu from 3 Brigade,Africa University led by Mr Tarisai Chimbandi, Mutare City Council, Verify Engineering, Zesa among others.
The ZPCS and drum majorettes from Mudanda Primary school provided entertainment.
Story By Lovemore Masunungure
