Online Reporter
Freeman Razemba
Senior Reporter
Government is reviewing legal frameworks and infrastructure financing models as part of efforts to establish an integrated road traffic authority that will strengthen enforcement, improve road safety and reduce fatal accidents on the country’s roads.
The proposed authority will bring together key actors involved in road traffic management to enhance law enforcement, vehicle inspections, accident investigations, route management and cross-border transportation and trade.
Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister, Advocate Felix Mhona, revealed the plans during the Ninth Session of the Line Ministers’ Public Entities Corporate Governance Oversight Meeting held in Bulawayo.
He said the establishment of an integrated road traffic authority or agency would provide a coordinated approach to road safety management and help address the growing number of road traffic accidents.
“Road traffic management, administration and safety remain a national priority and a shared responsibility. We have to do more on this front. His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Cde Dr ED Mnangagwa, did not mince his words on this matter,” he said.
“On 28 May 2026, he guided us as follows: “… The latest spate of accidents call for drastic measures and lasting solutions targeting irresponsible behaviour and unroadworthy vehicles on our roads.
“I am also directing the Government to speed up the re-establishment of road maintenance units across the country and to provide adequate resources for impactful remedial work on our weather-damaged highways and roads…”
“This calls for us to take stock of our policies, legal frameworks, institutional arrangements, institutional and infrastructure financing and do what we can to ensure that we integrate actors in road traffic management for effective enforcement, inspections, accident investigations to avoid recurrences, effective route management and cross-border transportation and trade.”
Minister Mhona said that while they should be commended for their efforts in the ongoing law-making process of the road accident fund administration law, they should also do more on the formulation of strong institutions for the pre-accident regime.
“Let us work towards establishing the integrated road traffic authority or agency with the powers to enforce road traffic safety laws and stop the carnage. Even if it involves moving the VID, RMT, and CVR to that institution, let it be,” he said.
“The Ministry has also embarked on establishing a stand-alone Road Accident Fund Administration (RAFA) and its legislative framework is expected to be finalised during this 4th Session of the Tenth Parliament.”
Minister Mhona said last week they did a peer review of the bill with his counterpart, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi, and it was now ready for the Cabinet Committee of Legislation (CCL).
