Story by Farirai Mutumburanzou
Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe launched the Livestock Awareness Campaign themed ‘Pen livestock to save a life’ in Ntabazinduna, Bulawayo, yesterday educating the rural folks the importance of highway fence to avoid accidents caused by livestock.
The Managing Director of the Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe Mr Munodawafa stated the alarming statistics of accidents in Zimbabwe.
“Here in Zimbabwe every single day, an average of 5 people die on our roads and about 38 people are injured every day,” he said.
He added that as a Board under the government of Zimbabwe they have been instructed to implement measures to reduce fatality cases on the roads.
“We have been sent by the government, able led by His Excellency President Emmerson Mnangagwa, so that we that we do everything in our capacity to see that the rate of accidents is reduced in the country.
“In implementing this program, we do not work alone, and I would like to appreciate the Deputy Minister Agriculture Honourable D. Mharapira and the Permanent Secretary Dr Obert Jiri for running along so that this project is successfully maintained,” he said.
Mr. Munodawafa urged the villagers of Ntabazinduna to herd livestock by day and pen by night.
“We appeal to the public to lock the cattle from day to night to avoid the occurrence of accidents, herd by day, pen by night to avoid loss of life and money.
“Cattle is our most prized possession, let’s value them and avoid them from straying into our roads,” he said.
He added that in 2019 the TSCZ with the help of the government installed a highway fence from Gweru to Plumtree but was however vandalized by the locals.
“We appeal to you the Chief to assist the government in safeguarding the fence from being vandalized, this fence protects our cattle. Let’s work as a community in protecting the fence and save lives,” said Mr. Munodawafa.
Speaking at the same event the Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Wildlife and Fisheries Dr D. Mharapira said, “This year the livestock hazardous campaign is running under the theme ‘Pen livestock to save lives’. It is indeed important that we pen our livestock especially at night, learn to do this to avoid having them roaming around on highways causing injury, death and property damage.
“I would also like to encourage the farmers to create fence paddocks as they act as barriers in the event that livestock may want to escape at night,” he said.
He also showed dissatisfaction on locals vandalizing the highway fences and road signposts.
“However, it is disheartening as we speak today most of the fences were vandalized by us locals, defeating the purpose in which it was fenced for. Let us respect the warnings signs,” he said.
Dr Mharapira warned the villagers to pen their livestock to avoid the cattle from being confiscated.
“It is in this regard that I want to bring the statutory instrument 308 of 1974 which prohibits any person from allowing animals from grazing near roads. To avoid your cattle from being confiscated remember to be foretold is to be forearmed,” he concluded.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, Wildlife and Fisheries Dr Obert Jiri concurred with Mr. Munodawafa and Dr Mharapira that cattle are regarded as a sign of wealth, therefore it should not be left outside and that a heavy punishment will follow those who do not abide to the law.
Matebeland is known to have more livestock in the country hence an increased number of accidents caused by livestock.
The Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe running with the Livestock Awareness Campaign themed ‘Pen livestock to save a life’ is set to educate the masses the importance to pen livestock to avoid accidents on the roads.
