Road carnage worries authorities

Road accidents in Malawi claim 228 people per 10,000 vehicles, prompting the country’s National Road Safety Council to request funds from the World Bank to help cut down the carnage.

Media reports quoted the council’s head, Harvey Mjojo, as saying the country’s 7,000 minibuses were responsible for most accidents and blamed the drivers who often don’t have drivers’ licences and routinely drive too fast and pay little attention to road safety.

Mjojo further said the total number of registered vehicles has increased to 175,000 from 60,000 five years ago. However, added Mjojo, there is only one policeman for every 2,000 people in Malawi, while the lack of equipment such as speed traps makes it harder to catch offenders.