Online Reporter
Online Reporter
ZIMBABWE is pushing ahead with a sweeping overhaul of its road accident compensation system, introducing a State-administered Road Accident Fund (RAF) that guarantees faster assistance to victims —without forcing them to prove who caused the crash.
The reform comes amid renewed concern over the country’s road carnage after the recent Chivhu tragedy, which claimed 28 lives and injured six others when a commuter omnibus collided head-on with a haulage truck along the Harare-Masvingo Highway.
President Mnangagwa subsequently declared a State of Disaster.
Preliminary police investigations indicated that the haulage truck was attempting to overtake another vehicle when it collided with the oncoming commuter omnibus.
In an interview, Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Felix Mhona said the Road Accident Fund Administration Bill is now at an advanced stage following recent nationwide consultations.
The proposed law represents a major shift from the current system, under which compulsory third-party motor insurance is provided and administered by private insurance companies.
Third-party insurance is mandatory under the Road Traffic Act and is intended to provide protection against death, injury and property damage arising from accidents involving passengers and other road users.
Under the proposed RAF, however, compensation for people injured or killed in road crashes would be administered through a State-run system based on a no-fault principle.
This means a victim would not first have to prove that another driver was negligent before receiving assistance.
Instead, the fund would provide support for expenses such as evacuation, medical treatment and funerals, with the specific amounts to be capped through regulations.
The policy is intended to remove some of the legal and administrative delays that can leave injured people and bereaved families waiting for assistance while responsibility for a crash is being established.
The proposed system would be funded from the existing compulsory motor insurance premium.
Minister Mhona said the current standard premium of US$35,65 would be restructured, with 35 percent allocated to the Road Accident Fund.
Another 34,3 percent would remain with insurance companies to cover liabilities relating to vehicle damage and other claims.
The remaining 30,7 percent would cater for brokerage fees, contributions to the Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe, stamp duty and the Insurance and Pensions Commission levy.
The fund is expected to be reviewed periodically in consultation with Treasury, with Government also exploring additional sources of funding.
But while the RAF would address the needs of victims after crashes occur, Government is simultaneously seeking to strengthen the institutions responsible for preventing accidents in the first place.
Minister Mhona said the country needs an integrated road traffic authority or agency bringing together key players currently involved in road traffic management.
The proposed institution would strengthen enforcement, vehicle inspections, accident investigations, route management and cross-border transportation.
It could also bring together functions currently spread across institutions such as the Vehicle Inspection Department (VID), Road Motor Transportation (RMT) and the Central Vehicle Registry (CVR).
