Failure by authorities to regulate traffic pose danger to children in Hwange

Onita Sibanda

In Lwendulu, a Hwange Colliery Company run suburb, Gebuza road has become a potential menace, leaving parents and residents in fear. With schools opened and children’s lives at risk, parents in Hwange are urging authorities to take swift action to tame the menacing traffic and mitigate health hazards that have turned their neighbourhood into a danger zone. The road, flanked by houses, has become a thoroughfare for trucks, buses, and cars, putting both adults and children’s lives in danger.

All suburbs in Hwange Concession area are Colliery’s private property. But, parents in the suburb are concerned.

“During the holidays children were playing all over the neighbourhood. Now, after school opening, they use the same road which we had close calls when some were nearly hit by cars on several occasions. Our houses are too close to the road, and some babies, while crawling, can easily leave the yard and move onto the road,” said Anita Dube, a resident.

The road has become increasingly busy of late, with excessive traffic volume. When Besana Mail visited the suburb, the crew saw numerous potholes on the road, a condition which exacerbates hazards.

Residents said while the authorities have attempted to re-fill the potholes, the road remains in a deplorable state, due to heavy traffic.

“Outside danger, the traffic generates excessive dust, compromising both our safety and health. The dust invades our homes, putting our well being at risk,” said Nomsa Phiri.

Few months ago residents in Cinderella, Hwange, blocked the road, popularly known as, ‘the black road’, where trucks passed through in their suburb. Residents had complained of dust but without no action was taken by the colliery authorities. Ultimately, residents took the matter into their own hands.

“I think we should do what Cinderella residents did before we lose lives. We are appealing for authorities to take action, if they delay, we will also block the road,” said a resident who requested anonymity for fear of persecution.

Residents are appealing for local authorities to take action. Kinda Ndlovu, a community leader said that there are clear signs that prohibit heavy trucks, but alas they continue using the road, causing serious damage to the road and risking lives.

Ndlovu described the situation as dire, saying children are at high risk of being run over by increased traffic and infected with airborne disease due to dust.

“Heavy traffic should not be allowed into Gebuza Road. We are appealing to the local authorities to put in place booms to control the entry of heavy vehicles, also fix the road by maintaining humps to control speeding cars. This is dangerous,” warned Ndlovu.

Due to multiple potholes light vehicles were seen moving on the roadsides reserved for pedestrians.

The major worry among residents remain children’s safety and pneumoconiosis. Pneumoconiosis is one of a group of interstitial lung disease caused by breathing in certain kinds of dust particles that damage your lungs.

The development of pneumoconiosis typically takes years, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine. These dust particles induce inflammation in lungs, which can eventually result in scar tissue, because lungs are unable to expel them altogether. Pneumoconiosis can be straightforward or intricate.