ROAD CARNAGE BLEEDING FAMILIES, COFFERS . . .Drivers urged to introspect . . .Over US$400m lost per year 

Source: ROAD CARNAGE BLEEDING FAMILIES, COFFERS . . .Drivers urged to introspect . . .Over US$400m lost per year | The Sunday Mail

Theseus Shambare

Road accidents are draining the country’s financial resources.

But most importantly, they are costing life and limb.

According to the Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe (TSCZ), the nation experiences an average of five road fatalities daily, with at least six accidents recorded every hour nationwide.

“We are losing close to 2 000 lives annually due to road accidents, an unsustainable tragedy that translates to roughly five deaths each day,”  Transport and Infrastructural Development  Minister Felix Mhona told The Sunday Mail Society.

He further detailed the staggering economic impact.

“In monetary terms, this carnage costs the nation no less than US$400 million per year, accounting for fatalities, injuries, hospitalisations and the resulting burden on families.”

Minister Mhona expressed concern over unregistered vehicles and those operating without valid permits.

“It is quite disturbing that a number of accidents involve such vehicles. This is something we are working on closely with the police to address,” he said.

Road accidents stretch Government resources through emergency services and healthcare costs, while long-term economic burdens arise from lost productivity, infrastructure damage and systemic inefficiencies.

These accidents create a continuous drain on the national budget, impacting multiple sectors and compounding financial challenges.

The TSCZ reports that during the first nine months of 2024 alone, 35 619 road traffic accidents were recorded. This figure is part of a broader total of approximately 85 000 reported accidents of various types, which have collectively claimed the lives of 1 352 people.

Over 2 000 of these incidents were hit-and-run cases, claiming numerous lives, including those of schoolchildren.

Furthermore, 6 514 individuals sustained injuries during this period, leaving lasting scars on families and communities.

Human error

The root causes of this crisis, as identified by experts, are multifaceted. They include inadequate driver training, flawed licensing procedures and insufficient law enforcement.

These systemic failures create a breeding ground for reckless behaviour, transforming Zimbabwe’s roads into a deadly gamble.

Tragedies over the years have underscored the severity of the situation.

A recent harrowing accident near Kadoma, where a bus roof was peeled back like a sardine can, epitomised the dangers of the nation’s highways.

Earlier, a Blue Circle bus overturned near the treacherous Chirundu Bridge.

Two weeks prior to this, a head-on collision between an Urban Connect bus and a haulage truck near the Lutumba tollgate resulted in the loss of 24 lives out of 65 passengers.

All of these accidents were caused by human error.

The magnitude of the Urban Connect accident moved the nation, prompting the President to declare it a national disaster.

The Government’s suspension of Urban Connect’s licence apparently exposed a critical system failure, revealing that the company operated without valid insurance or permits.

This flagrant disregard for regulations exposed a culture where profit often trumps passenger safety.

“How can the lives of commuters be put in the hands of people who knowingly disregard traffic road regulations?” questioned a visibly shaken commuter at the Kadoma bus terminus, echoing the sentiments of a nation gripped by fear and frustration.

Regulations

To legally operate a public service vehicle (PSV) in Zimbabwe, operators are required to possess a valid route permit issued by the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development, a certificate of fitness (COF) obtained through rigorous vehicle inspections, mandatory passenger insurance, a driver’s licence with PSV certification, and company registration and licensing in accordance with Zimbabwean law.

To drive a PSV in Zimbabwe, one must possess a valid driver’s licence with the appropriate PSV certification, a medical certificate, police clearance and a valid defensive driving certificate, as mandated by the Road Traffic Act (Chapter 13:11).

Periodic retesting is also required to maintain the PSV certification.

However, the Urban Connect case demonstrated the alarming reality that these requirements are not consistently enforced, raising serious questions about the integrity of the enforcement system.

Despite these regulations, accidents persist in Zimbabwe due to a combination of factors, including lax enforcement, inadequate driver training, systemic corruption and the ability of drivers to bypass required procedures through bribery.

Driver retesting and vehicle certification have devolved into mere formalities and revenue generators, demonstrably failing to ensure driver competency and vehicle compliance.

“Every journey is a prayer. We see the news, we hear the sirens and we wonder, ‘Who is next?’” said Mai Rudo, a roadside vendor near the Kadoma accident scene.

Her eyes, haunted by the recent loss of her nephew, reflected the shared fear gripping the nation.

Nqobile Sibanda, a seasoned bus driver, recounted his daily commute, filled with near misses and reckless manoeuvres by fellow drivers.

“We are betting our lives against the drivers who race like they own the roads,” he said, his voice laced with weariness.

Tendai Masuku, a frequent traveller, described a sense of powerlessness in the face of reckless drivers.

“They treat us like cargo, not people,” he said, recalling instances where drivers dismissed passenger concerns about speeding.

Thandiwe Moyo highlighted the issue of driver fatigue on long routes.

“One driver told me he had been on the road for over 12 hours straight; no second driver. Nothing! It is terrifying,” she said.

Enforcement

The Passengers Association of Zimbabwe (PAZ) is alarmed by the rising number of road accidents, attributing many to driver negligence.

“The lack of respect for passengers’ lives is unacceptable. The authorities must enforce stricter regulations, increase driver training, enhance road safety inspections, impose harsher penalties, promote passenger awareness, improve road engineering and maintenance, and prohibit alcohol sales near bus termini to combat the surge in road accidents and create a safer travel environment,” said PAZ president Tafadzwa Goliati.

“For urban kombis, we frequently see drivers dropping off at liquor spots along the way as they hand over the steering to another unlicensed driver with a fully loaded passenger vehicle.”

Recently, the Government gazetted the age requirement for drivers of PSVs to be 30 years and above, in a move aimed at addressing the rising number of fatal accidents and recklessness on the roads.

By increasing the minimum age, the Government hopes to ensure that only mature and experienced drivers are behind the wheel of PSVs.

The new age requirement aligns with regional practices.

Tawanda Karikoga, chairperson of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Transport and Infrastructural Development, acknowledged the magnitude of the crisis.

“Reckless driving, particularly speeding, remains a significant concern. We are exploring increased penalties for repeat offenders and leveraging technology like automated speed cameras,” he said.

He also admitted the challenges posed by corruption and crumbling infrastructure.

Karikoga pledged to strengthen multi-sectoral collaboration.

“We are working with the Ministry of Health and Child Care to enhance emergency response and with the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education to incorporate road safety education,” he added.

Recently, national police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi called for urgent self-reflection among Zimbabwean drivers.

“People are behaving as if there is no tomorrow, as if the world is ending today. As Zimbabweans, we must engage in self-reflection. What kind of driving culture do we want for our country?

“Every week, we, as the police, document a portion of the road traffic incidents. It is high time we take action. If that means revoking licences, so be it. If it means sending people to jail, then that must happen,” he said.

In Zimbabwe, the Road Traffic Act (Chapter 13:11) stipulates that a driver’s licence can be revoked or endorsed for “reckless or negligent driving resulting in a serious accident, driving under the influence or accumulating excessive penalty points”.

Additionally, courts may order revocation if medical incapacity warrants it.

Operators in the country who disregard driver age limits and are involved in accidents face penalties under the Road Traffic Act, including permit suspension or revocation and fines.

They may also face potential criminal charges for negligence or culpable homicide, with the severity of the punishment dependent on the accident’s outcome and the operator’s knowledge of the violation.

However, licence endorsements for reckless drivers in Zimbabwe are inconsistently applied due to enforcement challenges, corruption and court delays.

Consequently, many reckless drivers continue operating vehicles without facing the legally mandated consequences.

Tatenda Chinoda, African Road Safety Observatory’s Roads4Life champion, called for urgent action to address corruption and enforce accountability.

“Independent oversight and a secure, anonymous system for reporting corruption are needed, as is a dramatic increase in fines and jail time for those who are caught in corrupt practices. Furthermore, why are bus company owners not being held to account?” he queried.

Chinoda advocated a comprehensive approach, including revamped driver training, incentive programmes for safe drivers and the implementation of technology like GPS tracking to monitor driver behaviour.

“Targeted public awareness campaigns are needed to educate drivers, bus owners and passengers on road safety regulations. Furthermore, economic pressures on drivers and bus owners must be addressed,” he said.

However, until systemic issues are addressed, corruption is rooted out and a culture of prioritising safety is instilled, Zimbabwe’s highways will remain a deadly gamble.

While some roads need attention, the issue is not just about mending infrastructure, but about fixing a system that prioritises profit over human lives.