Source: Govt details proposed Road Accident Fund Bill – herald
Freeman Razemba
Senior Reporter
IN a major policy shift aimed at transforming support for road crash victims, the Government has detailed its proposal to establish a State-administered Road Accident Fund.
The move, outlined in the forthcoming Road Accident Fund Bill, seeks to take over the administration of compulsory third-party motor insurance from private players to ensure victims receive medical attention and compensation more adequately and timeously.
Currently, third-party insurance is a mandatory requirement under the Road Traffic Act, provided by private insurance companies.
It offers protection against death, injury and property damage to passengers and other road users involved in accidents.
The new Bill represents a fundamental overhaul, designed to create a no-fault compensation system that cuts through the legal and administrative delays often faced by claimants under the current model.
The Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development has embarked on a nationwide consultative process to refine the legislation and consultations have already been held in Marondera, Mutare, Masvingo, Bindura and Victoria Falls, with the Harare session to be scheduled imminently.
These meetings have seen strong turnout from citizens, traditional leaders and stakeholders, who have broadly applauded the initiative while advocating for a stronger emphasis on accident prevention.
A clear public consensus has emerged from these gatherings, urging the Government to complement the compensation fund with proactive investments in road safety.
Key recommendations from stakeholders include improved road engineering and signage, better resourcing of medical facilities to handle trauma cases and the dedication of a portion of the fund’s resources specifically to rehabilitate accident-prone roads.
In an interview, Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Felix Mhona explained the rationale and mechanics of the proposed fund.
He said under the current system, a sizeable portion of the third-party insurance premium is absorbed by administrative costs, with complexities in the claims process causing financial hardship for victims.
“The current state of affairs is complex and we wish to remove that complexity by introducing the Road Accident Fund,” Minister Mhona said.
“The claims process is intricate and challenging to navigate without legal expertise, leading to frustration for many claimants.”
Minister Mhona provided a breakdown of the proposed new funding structure.
The current standard premium of US$35,65 will be restructured; 35 percent will be allocated to the new Road Accident Fund, while 34,3 percent will remain with insurance companies to cover liabilities for vehicle damage and other claims.
The remaining 30,7 percent covers brokerage fees, contributions to the Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe for safety awareness, stamp duty and the Insurance and Pensions Commission levy.
The RAF will operate on a no-fault principle, meaning victims will not need to prove another party’s negligence to receive support for evacuation costs, medical expenses and funeral costs – all of which will be capped through regulations.
This system is intended to dramatically speed up assistance to the injured and bereaved.
The Minister described the Bill as part of a broader, urgent reform of Zimbabwe’s road safety ecosystem, aligned with the targets of the National Development Strategy and Vision 2030.
He cited sobering statistics from a Road Safety Performance Review launched by President Mnangagwa in 2022, which found that in Zimbabwe, a traffic crash occurs every 15 minutes, resulting in over 35 000 crashes, at least 1 800 deaths and more than 10 000 injuries annually.
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