GOVERNMENT MOVES TO TIGHTEN ROAD SAFETY ENFORCEMENT

By SBT Reporter, Harare

Government is moving to strengthen road safety enforcement and overhaul key institutions after 1,979 people were killed and 8,061 injured in 48,150 road traffic accidents recorded across Zimbabwe in the first nine months of 2026. More than 94 percent of the crashes were attributed to human error, highlighting the need for stricter enforcement and greater responsibility among motorists and other road users.

Vice-President Kembo Mohadi said the country could no longer accept road accidents as an inevitable consequence of increased mobility, calling for urgent and coordinated action to reduce fatalities. Addressing the High-Level Road Safety Indaba in Harare yesterday, Dr Mohadi challenged the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) to intensify enforcement, close loopholes and ensure that offenders were brought to book.

“It is with a deep sense of sorrow that we were briefed that as of 30 September 2026, Zimbabwe already recorded 48,150 crashes, which have claimed 1,979 lives and left some 8,061 with various degrees of injury,” he said. “We cannot accept a situation in which road traffic crashes are treated as an unavoidable consequence of mobility.” Dr Mohadi said many accidents could be prevented through responsible road use, effective law enforcement, safer infrastructure, appropriate technology and stronger institutions.

A major proposal is the transformation of the Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe (TSCZ) into a more effective road safety agency, with expanded capacity beyond its existing enforcement and public awareness responsibilities. He directed the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development to prepare proposals for the institution’s transformation and submit them to Government for consideration.

The proposed changes would require policy, legal and institutional reforms, as well as adequate funding and statutory powers. “The ultimate measure of success will be the extent to which the proposed institution will be able to save lives, reduce injuries and restore confidence in our road safety ecosystem,” Dr Mohadi said. He also urged Parliament to expedite consideration of the Road Accident Fund Bill, which is intended to strengthen assistance for people injured in road crashes and families who lose relatives.

The Vice-President raised concern over livestock straying onto highways and the removal of roadside fences, warning that both practices exposed motorists to danger. He called on farmers to secure their animals and urged communities and local authorities to work together to prevent such hazards. “Pulling down roadside fences must stop henceforth and perpetrators brought to book,” he said.

Dr Mohadi also identified abandoned and broken-down vehicles on public roads as a safety threat. Government, he said, would review the relevant legal framework, including Statutory Instrument 308 of 1974, to determine what changes were necessary. He called for tougher action against motorists who drive under the influence of alcohol and other impairing substances, with particular attention to young people using public roads while under the influence of narcotics.

Motorists were urged to observe speed limits, exercise courtesy and avoid driving when physically or mentally unfit. Pedestrians, meanwhile, were reminded to use designated crossing points. Public transport operators were also challenged to prioritise passenger safety over profits, while greater protection was called for vulnerable road users, including pedestrians and cyclists.

Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development Felix Mhona said the indaba was intended to secure political commitment, share international best practices, identify weaknesses and strengthen cooperation among road safety stakeholders. The discussions are expected to accelerate implementation of Zimbabwe’s national road safety plan, which targets a reduction of at least 50 percent in road traffic accidents and fatalities by 2030.

Held under the theme, “Towards safer roads through shared responsibility, effective enforcement and improved emergency response”, the indaba also coincided with the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims. Minister of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Kazembe Kazembe outlined strategies and developments under the Smart Road Safety Enforcement framework.

The indaba comes amid growing calls for a comprehensive approach to road safety, combining law enforcement, infrastructure improvements, public education, emergency response and accountability across all categories of road users.

Zimbabwe road safety