Online Reporter
Freeman Razemba
Senior Reporter
GOVERNMENT has declared a new crackdown on drunk driving, handing over more than 100 state-of-the-art breathalysers to the Zimbabwe Republic Police for immediate deployment on the country’s major highways.
The move, which authorities say signals the end of the road for motorists who drink and drive, comes ahead of the festive season, a period traditionally marked by a spike in road accidents.
The equipment, acquired through the Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe (TSCZ), includes 100 breathalysers, 15 breathalyser printers and 1 000 disposable breathing apparatus.
The rollout, supported by a new fleet of 18 operational vehicles for the Vehicle Inspectorate Department (VID), marks the first large-scale use of modern road safety enforcement technology in the country.
The handover was conducted by Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Felix Mhona and his Permanent Secretary Engineer Joy Makumbe, in Harare yesterday.
The event was attended by senior police officers, legislators and Government dignitaries.
In his remarks, Minister Mhona highlighted the severity of Zimbabwe’s road safety crisis.
“The state of road safety in Zimbabwe is in a critical condition, characterised by a deeply worrying rise in accidents and fatalities,” he said. “On average, five people die every day on the roads in Zimbabwe, and this translates to 153 persons killed per month.”
He revealed that the country loses approximately US$406 million annually — about 3 percent of its GDP — from an average of 40 000 road traffic accidents every year.
Minister Mhona described the breathalysers as a “critical intervention” that will enhance the police’s operational capacity.
“This equipment will dramatically enhance the operational capacity of our police service, enabling widespread and highly visible sobriety checks,” he said.
“It acts as a powerful deterrent, discouraging drivers from drinking and driving in the first place. More importantly, it allows for the swift and objective detection of intoxicated drivers, removing them from our roads before they can cause irreversible tragedy.”
The minister reminded all road users that the festive season is approaching and urged vigilance. “In November alone, we have already witnessed a series of accidents. Let us be active architects of road safety,” he said.
The breathalysers represent a significant shift from previous enforcement methods. The scientific devices provide quick, accurate, and legally admissible results by measuring the amount of alcohol in a person’s breath. This eliminates the reliance on subjective assessments like slurred speech or unsteady movement, which are often challenged in court.
Under the Road Traffic Act, driving with a blood alcohol concentration of 80 milligrammes or more per 100 millilitres of blood is a serious offence. Penalties include fines of up to level 10, imprisonment for up to five years, or both. Commuter omnibus and heavy-vehicle drivers face even harsher penalties, with jail terms of between one and 10 years.
Minister Mhona also outlined other Government initiatives to improve road safety, including the Emergency Road Rehabilitation Programme (ERRP) and the digital Zimbabwe Integrated Transport Management Information System (ZIMTIS).
He announced that legislation for the establishment of a Road Accident Fund, designed to improve post-accident care for victims, is also being developed.
The newly commissioned VID vehicles and advanced brake roller testers are expected to strengthen roadside inspections and enforce vehicle fitness regulations.
“The operational vehicles will enable our inspectors to be more agile, extending their reach into remote and under-served areas,” Minister Mhona said.
He added that the brake testers provide “objective, data-driven and irrefutable evidence of a vehicle’s braking capability”, which will help eliminate guesswork and prevent corruption during inspections.
