Minister Mhona Launches Nationwide Pedestrian Crossings Programme to Curb Rising Road Carnage

Government has intensified efforts to improve road safety following the launch of the Nationwide Pedestrian Crossings Programme by Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister, Felix Mhona, in Harare.

The initiative, unveiled during the United Nations Global Road Safety Week, seeks to rehabilitate zebra crossings across Zimbabwe as authorities move decisively to reduce road traffic fatalities and protect vulnerable road users.

Under the programme, Government has procured road-marking paint and 10 specialised road-marking machines that will be deployed across all provinces to restore and improve pedestrian crossings on major roads and urban centres.

Speaking at the launch, Minister Mhona said the programme reflects Government’s broader commitment to strengthening road safety infrastructure in line with the vision of President Emmerson Mnangagwa to safeguard lives and modernise the country’s transport network.

He said clearly visible and properly maintained pedestrian crossings are critical in reducing accidents involving pedestrians, particularly in densely populated urban areas and high-traffic zones.

Minister Mhona also underscored the importance of sustained public awareness campaigns, urging pedestrians to make use of designated crossing points while calling on motorists to strictly adhere to traffic regulations and exercise greater caution on the roads.

The minister expressed concern over the recent surge in fatal road accidents, pointing to the tragic Kwekwe–Gokwe Road crash in which 10 people lost their lives after a bus collided with a truck, as well as another fatal incident in Hwange where eight people died after a vehicle plunged off a bridge.

He warned that reversing the growing trend of road carnage will require collective responsibility from all road users, appealing for heightened vigilance and compliance with road safety measures to prevent further loss of life.

The launch comes amid mounting national concern over rising traffic fatalities, with Government increasingly prioritising infrastructure rehabilitation, road maintenance and behavioural change campaigns as part of a broader strategy to improve transport safety across Zimbabwe.

By Witness A Phiri