malvernmugadzikwa
Sharon Masocha
THE Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe (TSCZ) has initiated a nationwide crackdown on unlicensed and non-compliant driving schools.
This follows reports linking a significant number of road accidents to inadequate driver training, insufficient licensing procedures and lax law enforcement.
There are approximately 500 registered driving schools in Zimbabwe, with 159 operating in Harare alone.
The TSCZ warned that driving schools that fail to comply with established regulations will be deregistered during the ongoing blitz, which has seen inspectors deployed across the country.
The initiative seeks to register, regulate and monitor the operations of driving schools.
As part of its mandate, the council is committed to enhancing road safety and ensuring compliance by driving training institutions.
“The blitz seeks to ensure compliance and guarantee that student drivers receive adequate training, free from the influence of bogus and non-compliant driving schools,” said Lucy Kuwandiri-Mapfumo, the TSCZ’s media and corporate communications officer.
“This effort promotes road safety and ensures that safe driving practices are implemented at the grassroots level. Harare has the highest concentration of driving schools compared to other provinces.”
In addition to deregistration, driving schools found operating illegally will face the consequence of having their students automatically disqualified from taking the Vehicle Inspectorate Department (VID) test.
Some driving schools have been accused of accepting bribes from prospective learners to ensure they obtain the licences.
This practice has contributed significantly to the rise in the number of road accidents, as many new drivers struggle to understand and follow basic road regulations.
Moreover, some driving school instructors have been observed blatantly disregarding traffic rules, even while driving marked vehicles.
“Those found non-compliant will not be able to have their students tested at VID . . . Our aim is to protect the safety of future road users. We urge all driving schools to take this matter seriously and prioritise road safety in their operations,” said the TSCZ official.
The council has issued a strong warning to driving schools operating without the necessary documentation.
“One of our functions is to register, regulate and monitor driving schools in our country. To that end, we frequently conduct driving school blitzes to ensure compliance within the sector,” she explained.
The objective, she added, is to produce competent drivers who can help reduce accidents and promote safe driving practices.
Furthermore, she emphasised that the ongoing inspection is not a one-off exercise.
“We urge all driving schools to ensure that they meet all necessary requirements to avoid deregistration.”
Online Reporter