CHIPINGE TIMES REPORTER

JULIASDALE – A 40km stretch along Nyanga–Juliasdale Road has caused 40 accidents in 10 months making one of the deadliest roads in the country, Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe Manicaland Regional manager Ernest Muchena has said.

Thirteen fatalities were reported in the area during the same January to October 30, 2022 period.

Muchena said this during a tour of the road by the Minister of Transport and Infrustructure Development Felix Mhona on   Thursady last week adding that this reflected a rate of one accident for every 1km.

He blamed the high rate of accidents on the steep mountainous terrain and the sharp curves.

“We did road safety audits with the Department of Roads in a bid to reduce the number of accidents. The terrain is mountainous, there are steep slopes and sharp curves and tourists and new people to the area are particularly in greater danger.

“We have from the 60 km peg from Nyanga to Juliasdale which recorded 40 accidents from January 1, to October 30 2022,” said Muchena.

He also said that a lot of accidents were caused by overloaded vehicles ferrying timber and farm produce from Rusape to Harare for sale. The drivers normally drive at night because their vehicles would not be road worthy.

Thirteen fatalities were recorded during the same period.