Government concerned about rail crossings accidents

Harare (New Ziana) -The Zimbabwe government is concerned about the high number of accidents occurring at railway crossings in which many lives being lost and property destroyed.

Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development Felix Mhona said this while officially opening the annual Southern African Railway Association Safety Week in the capital on Wednesday.

He said most of the accidents could be avoided if people observed the rules and regulations governing railway traffic.

“The importance of rail safety needs not to be over emphasised as the rail system plays an important role in national development,” he said.

At least six people have died from thirty-two level crossing accidents since the beginning of this year compared to two from twenty-four accidents recorded during the same period last year.

Some of the accidents involve motorists trying to beat oncoming trains, people who go on dates on railway lines and those who have earphones plugged in while walking along or crossing the lines.

Southern African Development Community railway authorities resolved in 2019 to set aside a week in October every year to hold activities in member countries to raise awareness on railway safety to prevent accidents and deaths on the tracks.

The theme this year was “Safety begins with your attitude; always be careful”.

New Ziana