CommuTalk Reporter
GWERU: Government through the Traffic Safety of Zimbabwe has adopted all the medical bills for the only surviving victim of the Masvingo-Zvishavane road accident and nine other road accident victims admitted to Gweru General Hospital.
Government pronouncement came after the Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development Felix Mhona visited the only survivor of the Masvingo-Zvishavane head-on collision which claimed 22 lives.
The Minister’s visit revealed that the victim is sharing the ward with nine road accident victims who are struggling to meet their bills for procedures prompting government intervention.
“The whole nation has been gripped by this accident which happened in Masvingo recently. President Mnangagwa has sent us on a fact-finding mission with regards to state of our roads as well as what is happening on these roads.
“We have seen that the survivor of the Masvingo-Zvishavane road who is now admitted here is recovering well. In the process we saw it fit to also help these other accident victims struggling to meet their bills here and we need to expedite the process so that they get the necessary attention timeously,” Mhona said.
Also present during the visit, Zimbabwe Republic Police national spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said safety of travelers is everyone’s responsibility which requires a collective approach as a way of curtailing road carnage.
“We have heard of people boarding these mushika shikas at will. The government has put in place a lockdown directive that there must be no intercity travel. We are saying the people should avoid boarding such type of transport. We understand that some police officers are letting these vehicles pass through checkpoints. It is the duty of citizens to come forward and report such misdemeanors,” Nyathi said
The burden of taking care of medical bills by accident victims has rekindled debate on the need to bring to finality the Road Accident Compensation Fund bill which seeks to address the financial challenges of accident victims.
