Online Reporter
Zvamaida Murwira
Senior Reporter
Zimbabwe Republic Police Commissioner General, Stephen Mutamba, has directed that only trained police officers are authorised to conduct breathalyser tests on motorists suspected of drinking and driving as the service seeks to curb road traffic accidents.
Comm Gen Mutamba said only those who have undergone the requisite training and obtained a valid certificate will administer the machines.
This followed the approval by President Mnangagwa of the use of requisite breathalyser machines to test motorists.
Comm Gen Mutamba’s directive is contained in a Government Gazette published last Friday in terms of the Road Traffic Act.
“It is hereby notified that the Commissioner-General of Police has, in terms of section 76(8) of the Road Traffic Act (Chapter13:11), authorised members of the Police Service who hold a valid breathalyser training certificate, to operate a breath-analysis instrument and conduct breath tests,” reads the notice by Comm Gen Mutamba.
“This notice follows the approval of the breath analysing instruments by His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, as specified in Road Traffic (Use of Breathalysers) Notice, Statutory Instrument 7 of 2026.”
A fortnight ago, President Mnangagwa gazetted new regulations approving the use of two breathalyser models by law-enforcement agencies, marking a major step in tightening the noose against drunk driving in an effort to curb fatal road traffic accidents.
The regulations authorise the use of two internationally recognised devices: the ST FIT-333Gi, manufactured by AAT Limited of Hong Kong, and the AT9000 manufactured by Hanwei Electronics Group Corporation of China.
Under Statutory Instrument 7 of 2026 — Road Traffic Act (Use of Breathalysers), President Mnangagwa approved the two breathalyser devices for use by police in detecting alcohol-impaired drivers, repealing the previous 2025 regulations and paving the way for nationwide deployment of modern testing equipment.
The move comes against the backdrop of worsening road carnage, with police confirming that 100 people died in 2 412 road traffic accidents during the just-ended festive season holidays, more than double the 1 211 accidents recorded over the same period in 2024.
Fatal crashes rose from 65 to 87, while injuries increased to 471 from 401.
Breathalysers measure the concentration of alcohol in a driver’s breath and convert it into a blood alcohol content (BAC) reading. A motorist is required to blow into a disposable mouthpiece attached to the device, which produces an instant digital result.
If a driver exceeds the legal alcohol limit, police can immediately bar them from continuing their journey and institute criminal proceedings.
The Government revived the use of breathalyser following a surge in road traffic accidents, mainly owing to human error such as drunken driving.
Peter Tanyanyiwa