Zimbabwe's government is basically admitting it's broke and wants private companies to help fund a massive road safety upgrade after accidents keep eating nearly three percent of the country's economic output every year. Transport Ministry official Takura Vengesera told a conference in Harare that Cabinet already approved creating a Road Accident Fund to help crash victims, and they're desperately hunting for outside cash to fix busted infrastructure through public-private partnerships.
The compensation fund is apparently modeled after similar programs in other African countries, and conference host Tawanda Sisimayi pointed out that about 90 percent of Zimbabweans don't have medical insurance. Emergency services are a total mess right now, with no central emergency number and sketchy rescue techniques killing people after crashes.
The government wants private investors to bankroll major highway projects connecting Harare to border crossings and linking Bulawayo with Victoria Falls.
The compensation fund is apparently modeled after similar programs in other African countries, and conference host Tawanda Sisimayi pointed out that about 90 percent of Zimbabweans don't have medical insurance. Emergency services are a total mess right now, with no central emergency number and sketchy rescue techniques killing people after crashes.
The government wants private investors to bankroll major highway projects connecting Harare to border crossings and linking Bulawayo with Victoria Falls.
