STOP GAMBLING WITH OUR KIDS LIVES

Sir,

The increasing number of road accidents across the country’s roads has cast a long shadow over our daily commutes.

With the past week’s horrific accident along the Mbabane Industrial Site road being an example, hush tones among residents have it that one of the vehicles had become a nuisance due to negligent driving and over speeding.

However, a particularly disheartening trend has emerged, raising serious concerns about the safety of our children.

The behaviour of some ‘bomalume’ who provide school transport services for our children is nothing short of alarming.

Trust

As parents, we placed our trust in them, entrusting them with the precious lives of these children, to ensure their safe transport on the country’s roads.

We carefully selected them from numerous other bomalume, confident that they would act as guardians for these young lives.

A few days ago, while in Mbabane CBD, I witnessed a scene that left me shaken. A minibus, packed to its 15-child capacity, shamelessly ran a red light.

The image of those young, vulnerable faces flashed before my eyes and I could not help but wonder: Does the malume ever consider the lives he holds in his hands?

Consequences

Does he think about the parents who entrust their children to his care? Does he comprehend the devastating consequences should an accident occur?

This incident is not an isolated one. It highlights a disturbing pattern of negligence that puts our children at grave risk.

Speeding, overloading, and disregard for traffic laws seem to be commonplace among some bomalume. It begs the question: Are we gambling with our children’s lives?

The potential for disaster was starkly illustrated recently when a Quantum, built for 15 passengers, overturned with 31 children aboard.

The driver’s excuse – he was running late – is a shocking testament to his disregard for safety. Had fate not intervened, the consequences of this reckless overloading could have been disastrous.

Risk

The undeniable risk of tragedy hangs over our roadways. The designation of some of our roads as ‘high accident zones’ underscores the urgency to address reckless driving.

Particularly at traffic light intersections, the need for a strong and visible traffic police presence is paramount. More stringent enforcement of traffic laws at these points would not only deter negligent behaviour, but also hold drivers accountable.

This proactive approach, while potentially leading to increased traffic violation citations, offers the best chance to prevent future accidents.

‘Bomalume’ and anyone transporting our children must understand the profound weight of their duty. Safety must be their absolute priority, with strict adherence to traffic laws and every possible precaution. We only have one life, and risking our children’s lives is beyond unacceptable.

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