Calls Grow for Stiffer Traffic Penalties as Holiday Death Toll Rises

A Fatal Holiday Crash (image source)

Reporter

Calls for tougher penalties on Zimbabwe’s roads have grown louder following a grim set of statistics released after the 2025 Heroes and Defence Forces holidays, showing a sharp increase in accidents, injuries, and deaths compared to last year. According to Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) national spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi, a total of 196 accidents were recorded nationwide during the holiday period, 13 of them fatal, resulting in 24 deaths and 96 injuries. This marks a troubling spike from 2024, when 149 accidents were reported, eight of which were fatal, killing 12 people and injuring 67.

“The causes remain depressingly familiar: reckless driving, mechanical faults, and speeding,” Commissioner Nyathi said, adding that in many cases, basic road safety rules were simply ignored.

The data has reignited debate about the adequacy of Zimbabwe’s traffic penalties. Passengers Association of Zimbabwe (PAZ) president Tafadzwa Goliati was blunt in his assessment. “The penalties are not deterrent enough. In other countries, violating road rules, especially where lives are at stake, can lead to imprisonment. Here, too many offenders walk away with a fine that’s cheaper than fixing a headlamp,” Goliati noted.

Goliati argues that weak enforcement compounds the problem, with spot fines often settled in cash without formal records, and many dangerous drivers returning to the road within hours.

The Heroes and Defence Forces holidays, typically associated with higher traffic volumes as families travel for commemorations and leisure, have historically been marred by spikes in accidents. The ZRP deploys extra officers and sets up numerous roadblocks during these periods, but accident figures remain stubbornly high.

Transport analyst Blessing Mapuranga believes the root cause goes beyond law enforcement. “We have a perfect storm: poor driver training, a culture of speeding, lax vehicle maintenance, and inadequate public transport infrastructure. Tougher penalties are important, but they won’t work without addressing the systemic issues,” he said. Advocates for reform point to models in countries like Botswana and South Africa, where excessive speeding carries mandatory licence suspension, drunk driving can result in immediate arrest and jail time, and repeat offenders are placed on public registers, making it harder to obtain insurance or employment as drivers.

Goliati believes Zimbabwe could adapt similar measures, particularly for “serial offenders” who rack up multiple fines without losing their licences. While driver error accounts for the majority of incidents, mechanical failures, often from unroadworthy commuter omnibuses (kombis), are a growing concern. Informal mechanics sometimes bypass safety systems to keep vehicles on the road cheaply, increasing the risk of brake failure or engine fires.

One Harare traffic police officer, speaking off-record, admitted that some kombis “slip through” roadworthiness checks because their operators pay bribes to avoid repairs. The Ministry of Transport has acknowledged the problem and promised consultations on stiffer penalties, but critics worry that without decisive timelines, the matter will fade until the next holiday toll is announced.

Meanwhile, families of victims are calling for a national road safety strategy, not just seasonal campaigns. For Ruth Manyika, whose brother died in a head-on collision during the holiday, stiffer laws are not just about deterrence.

“It’s about respect for life. My brother’s death wasn’t an accident — it was someone’s choice to overtake on a blind curve,” she said.