ZIMBABWE REPUBLIC POLICE

Staff College

[An Associate College of the University of Zimbabwe]

A. Department TRAINING METHODS

Lecturer INSPECTOR MUYAMBO F.

Programme CERTIFICATE IN TRAINING METHODS

Course Title CONTEMPORARY POLICING

Assignment No: HOW TO MANAGE INCREASE IN TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS IN YOUR

POLICING AREA

Names: SGT MACHEMEZE, SGT FUSI, SGT RUGODO, SGT MUKULI, CST MITI
AND CST SHUMBAIRERWA.

THE ISSUE OF CULPABLE HOMICIDE IS NOW A MANACE IS NOW A MANACE

TO THE ZIMBABWEAN PEOPLEAND THE POLING COMMUNITY AT LARGE,
THE SOCIAL MEDIA IS AWASH WITH SERIOUS ROAD ACCIDENT WHICH ARE
PROBLEMATIC DURING HOLIDAYS.

To address the issue of culpable homicide and accidents in Zimbabwe, as a traffic manager, it is
crucial to adopt a comprehensive and multifaceted approach. There are strategies that can be
adopted to address traffic accidents effectively.

a. The traffic manager needs to do is to understand the problem at hand. In this case, the
problem is the prevalence of culpable homicide in Zimbabwe and community at large.
Identify the key elements, constraints and desired outcomes. Ask questions that clarify
the problem and gather as much information as possible about the causes of the accident
in his or her policing area. This information can be found on daily accidents chart where
 accidents are plotted showing the place of occurrence, time of occurrence and the type of
accidents, that is to say whether it is a minor, serious or fatal accident. This is just piece
of information or data which if collected for a longer period, let us say a month, like that
which can be found on a monthly concentration chart and carefully studying this data, the
traffic manager can get accidents trends with information that can help identify black
spots. A black spot refers to a specific location on a road or high that has a significantly
higher rate of accidents compared to other areas. These locations are often characterized
by a history of frequent crashes resulting in injuries or fatalities. The monthly
concentration chart gives us also the time zone which most accidents occur. Accident
investigation and community engagement will then complete the remaining piece of the
puzzle, which is the accident causes in the policing area.

The traffic manager needs also to understand the charge of culpable homicide and its essential
elements. Culpable homicide, particularly in the context of Zimbabwean law, refers to the
unlawful killing of a person where the individual responsible did not have intent to commit
murder, but their actions resulted in death of another person. Section 49 of the criminal law
codification and reform act chapter 9:23 comes handy here. He also needs to understand fully the
traffic regulations that can assist empowering the police to tame bad behavior resulting in traffic
accidents. Armed with above knowledge and tools a traffic manager can now address the above
scenario. The traffic manager needs to come up with a goal oriented action plan after having
gathered all information relevant to the problem.

b. benefits community engagement

1. Raising awareness and education-engaging the community through social media,
community meeting and local op-ed pages to can raise awareness about the dangers of
reckless driving distracted driving, and the impact of road accidents during holidays.
2. Promoting responsible driving behavior- by involving the community, especially parents,
educators, and employers, in spreading the word about the dangers of distracted driving, a
culture of responsible driving behavior can be fostered.
3. Supporting law enforcement- community engagement can lead to increased support for
law enforcement efforts in addressing road safety issues. This can include reporting
reckless driving behavior and supporting local laws related to road safety.
 4. Building partnership- engaging with the community creates opportunities for partnership
between law enforcement agencies, local government and community organization.these
partnership can lead to collaborative efforts in implementing road safety initiatives and
campaigns.
5. Enhancing victim services-community can contribute to enhancing victim services by
creating a supportive environment for the families of victims of road accidents. This
include providing emotional support, access to resources, and advocating for victims
rights
6. Influencing policy and legislation- community engagement can have a significant impact
on influencing policy and legislation related road safety. By being a voice in the
community can contribute to the development of effective road safety regulations and
measures.
7. Preventing future through community engagement, collective efforts can be made to
prevent future incidences of culpable homicide and road accidents. This can be achieved
through education, advocacy, and promotion of safe driving practices.
8. Enhanced investigation- in the case of traffic homicide, investigations, community
engagement can aid in gathering information and witnesses, which can be crucial for a
thorough investigation. Engaging with the community can lead to a better understanding
of the circumstances surrounding the incident, potentially leading to more comprehensive
investigation.
c. Possible strategies in addressing the above scenario

Addressing the issue of culpable homicide and road accidents in Zimbabwe requires a multi-
faceted approach that involves various strategies and initiatives.

1. Straightening law enforcement –Increase police presence and conduct regular patrols in
accident prone areas. Enforce traffic laws strictly and constantly , including speed
limits ,seatbelt usage, and drunk driving. Utilize traffic cameras, automated enforcement
systems, and red light cameras to deter traffic violations and identify offenders.
2. Community engagement and education- engage the community through social media,
community events, and educational programs to raise awareness about the dangers of
reckless driving and the impact of road accidents during holidays. Establish police –
 community committees to establish local policing priorities and create partnerships with
local organizations and community leaders to promote road safety initiatives.
3. Enhanced traffic policing enforcement

Increase the presence of law enforcement on the roads, especially during the holidays, to
enforce traffic laws, and deter reckless driving behavior. Utilize technology and data
driven strategies to monitor and enforce traffic regulations. Collaborate with other
agencies and other stakeholders such as ZINARA, VED to share data and insights for a
more holistic approach.

4. Public Awareness Campaigns

Launch public awareness campaigns focused on promoting responsible driving behavior,

the dangers of destructed driving, and the importance of adhering to traffic laws.
Develop and promote public transport systems, including buses, trains, and light rail, to
reduce the number of private vehicles on the road [Mushika-shika]. Encourage walking,
cycling, and car pulling by improving infrastructure and providing incentives such as
dedicated lands, bike-sharing programs, and car pulling rewards.

5. Victim Support Services

Enhance victim services by proving emotional support, access to resources, and

advocating for victim rights. Establish community based roles to help the police, connect
with hard to reach groups, including those from minority communities, to ensure that
victim services are accessible to all affected individuals.

6. Continuous evaluation and improvement

Regulary monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of implemented strategies. Stay updated
with new technologies, research, and best practices in traffic management and accident
prevention. Adapt and improve strategies based on the evolving needs and challenges of
your specific traffic situation.

As traffic management, these are some of the strategies that can be implemented to reduce
traffic accidents. However if some accidents are inevitable, there is need for us as law-
 enforcement agent to establish a coordinated emergence response system involving police,
fire departments , medical services, and towing services. Enhance training foe emergency
responders to efficiently handle accident scenes and provide timely medical assistance,
implement perfective communication channels to alert authorities and emergency services
about accidents promptly. Remember addressing traffic accidents requires a multifaceted and
collaborative effort involving various stakeholders that include government agencies law
enforcement, transportation authorities, and the community.

Refences….distracted driving dangers and statistics NHTSA https://www.nhtsa.gov/risk-

driving/distracted - driving.

Driving change together: the role of community engagement in

Modern…..https://www.rekor.ai/post/driving-change-together-the-role-of-community-
engagement-in-modern-traffic-management