Driving retest — the debate

Theseus Shambare

SEVENTY-YEAR-OLD Khulu Moyo recently woke up to what he considered disturbing news.

He read an article suggesting that all local drivers would now be required to undergo a mandatory retest after a specific period.

The septuagenarian viewed this as a potential threat to his usual routine, which involves taking two of his grandchildren, aged five and seven, to and from school.

He also frequently drives from Marondera to his small farm in Macheke.

“How will I be able to book for these retests? Besides, I do not think I still have the stamina to go through this process. What happens if I fail the tests?” he said.

Khulu Moyo’s anxiety was shared by many.

Many like Farai Chari, a commuter omnibus driver, felt the Vehicle Inspection Department (VID) did not have the capacity to handle an exercise of such magnitude, considering existing delays in testing and approving new drivers.

The spectre of protracted waiting times also creates fertile ground for corruption.

“The queues will be endless; the delays unbearable!” he said.

“VID is already struggling with its current workload. How on earth will they cope with retesting every single driver? This sounds more like a recipe for mass disruption.”

However, not all drivers are supposed to undergo a retest.

“The ministry wishes to clarify that, contrary to some media reports, not all drivers are required to undergo a retest,” Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Felix Mhona told The Sunday Mail Society.

“There is no new proposal for a blanket retest system for all drivers. The recent confusion stemmed from misinterpretations of the SADC licence renewal process and existing professional driver regulations.”

He said under Statutory Instrument 168 of 2006, a policy established nearly two decades ago, the mandatory retest every five years applies specifically to public service vehicle (PSV) drivers and haulage/freight vehicle drivers operating vehicles exceeding 10 tonnes carrying capacity.

For ordinary drivers, the new SADC driver’s licence, while expiring after five years, would only necessitate updated biometrics and a medical report for renewal — not a full road test.

“Driving is a profession. Retesting separates professional driving from ordinary driving,” adds Minister Mhona.

“This is key for maintaining a robust database for professional drivers, ensuring their ongoing competence and adherence to evolving regulations and meticulously screening drivers by vehicle category, age (PSV drivers must be between 30 and 70 years old) and health (requiring annual medical examinations for PSV drivers).

“Furthermore, the retest acts as a crucial gatekeeper against fake licences through a system verification process and rigorously checks compliance with essential documents like defensive driving certificates and hazardous chemicals certifications.”

The system also mandates that PSV drivers possess a minimum of five years driving experience before certification.
Its primary role involves checking compliance with these essential documents and a practical road test.
Combating road carnage

 

At the core of Government’s stance, particularly regarding the retesting of professional drivers, lies Zimbabwe’s grim reality of road carnage.

The alarming statistics of crashes, frequently attributed to human error, underscore the importance of decisive action in addressing driver behaviour and competency.

According to the Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe (TSCZ), 94 percent of road crashes are due to human error, with vehicle defects and road environment contributing five percent and one percent, respectively.

Factors attributed to causing these accidents include speeding, reckless driving, driving while using a phone and driving under the influence of alcohol.

The study further highlights that driver inattention contributed to a significant 46,8 percent of accidents, while speeding accounted for 11 percent of incidents based on data from 2020 to January 2024, involving over 191 000 accidents.

Between 2019 and 2022, it is reported that 8 897 people died in traffic crashes.
Of that figure, approximately 2 079 fatalities were recorded in 2022.

The human toll is staggering, with a road traffic crash occurring, on average, every 10 to 15 minutes, resulting in about five people being killed and 38 injured daily on the country’s roads.

“Our role is to ensure that roads are a safe place and drivers understand that the idea of driving is moving people from point A to point B in the safest way possible. Whatever is deemed necessary to bring sanity on the roads is always welcome as we seek to lower road carnage,” explained TSCZ managing director Mr Munesu Munodawafa.

African Road Safety Observatory’s Roads4Life champion Mr Tatenda Chinoda said the carnage on Zimbabwe’s roads demands decisive action.

“Retesting offers a vital mechanism to ensure that all drivers, irrespective of their licensing tenure, demonstrate a minimum acceptable standard of competency. This is not just about paperwork; it is about preserving lives and fostering a safer driving environment for everyone,” he said.
Debate

The perceived efficacy of the existing mandatory retesting for public transport drivers has been a significant point of contention.

“Look at our kombis and buses — they are consistently involved in horrific accidents, yet their drivers are subjected to regular retests. Doesn’t that reality expose the limitations of retesting as a standalone solution?” quizzed Ms Nomusa Nkala, a Harare businesswoman.

“Driver behaviour is influenced by a complex interplay of factors, including enforcement, road conditions and individual attitudes. A retest alone is unlikely to be a magic bullet.”

Other stakeholders believe there is a need for a holistic approach.
Unnecessary

Mr Pious Chidzenga, president of the Zimbabwe Union of Drivers and Conductors, opines that retesting a driver, who is always on the road behind the steering wheel is unnecessary.

“However, routine medical tests are critical to ensure people’s lives are in safe hands on the roads,” he said.

“Already, there are retests, medicals and defensive courses done at the same ministry but at different departments, yet serving one purpose.”
Ngoni Katsvairo, secretary-general of the Greater Harare Association of Commuter Operators, said: “For experienced drivers, a simple VID yard test with reverse drums and a road drive for 30 minutes or so does not add value at all.

“A defensive driving course, currently required every four years, is a far more effective tool for accident prevention. This is a critical course that must actually be done every two or three years, rather than the current four years.”

He called for its extension to all drivers, with private vehicle drivers undertaking it every five years.
The importance of mandatory eye tests and comprehensive medical examinations, including blood pressure and sugar tests, for all drivers every five years were also identified as crucial for licence renewal.

“In addition, there is a need for Government to look at ways to reduce such things as drunk driving and reckless driving through effective and smart technology-based enforcement and continuous improvement of roads,” added Katsvairo.

“The issue of corruption during testing should also be addressed as this is a major contributor to accidents. Both VID and driving schools must have strict measures in place to curb malpractices.”
Some suggested the need for retesting former Class 2 (now the C and D licence categories) drivers that skipped Class 4 (now the

“B” licence), which many consider an elementary stage of driving.
Harare Youths Transporters Association chairperson, Edmore Tirivanhu Gwegwe, is fully behind the policy of retests for public service vehicle drivers.

“The challenge is we now have some people that acquire licences but never get employed for a long time. When they eventually do, along the way, they will be lacking experience, especially for driving public vehicles and that needs to be looked into through retests,” said Gwegwe.

“However, the process (retests) should be short and done in a single place, a one-stop shop. And the PSV drivers should receive standardised training at a designated institution like CMED (Pvt) Ltd to ensure a synchronised and higher standard of professionalism across the sector.”

There have also been calls for the Government to consider the costs involved, so as not to burden citizens.
Common practice

Minister Mhona says Zimbabwe’s approach aligns with existing professional licensing frameworks internationally and within the country.

“The retesting of certain driver categories is not unique to Zimbabwe. The United Kingdom, for instance, implements retesting for ‘D’ driving licence category (passenger-carrying drivers) with intervals dependent on vehicle category and driver age,” he said.

“Furthermore, within our own Government, one cannot drive an official vehicle before undergoing a retest, and similarly, some private companies conduct tests before allowing drivers to operate company vehicles. This underscores the principle of ensuring heightened competency for those entrusted with greater responsibility on the road.”

Mr Learnmore Zulu, who recently returned from Australia, said: “In many developed countries, driver’s licences have expiry dates and renewal typically involves administrative procedures and perhaps a vision test, but not a full-blown retest for drivers with clean records.”

Retesting, he noted, is usually reserved for specific circumstances, such as re-evaluations for elderly drivers or after significant licence suspensions.

Overall, a robust and inclusive national dialogue over the issue is paramount.

The conversation must move beyond simply retesting to embrace a comprehensive strategy for road safety — one that prioritises smart policing, stiffer penalties, improved infrastructure, continuous defensive driving education and a relentless fight against corruption.