Online Reporter
Freeman Razemba
Online Reporter
The Government is in the process of fast-tracking the establishment of the Road Traffic Authority Bill which seeks to integrate the Vehicle Inspectorate Department (VID), Central Vehicle Registry (CVR), Road Motor Transportation (RMT) and the Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe with regulatory and enforcement powers to curb road carnage.
Efforts are also being made to review Statutory Instrument 309 of 1985- Road Traffic Driving Schools Regulations to improve the minimum standards required in registering and operating a driving school.
This was revealed by Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Felix Mhona.
“In the past three years, we have put in place various legislative and administrative measures to reduce road traffic accidents,” he said.
“As you may recall, with regards to the legislative framework, we have promulgated the following: SI. 119 of 2023: Road Traffic (Licensing of Drivers) Regulations, 2023, is 23 June 2023; SI 118 of 2023 Road Traffic (Speed Limiting and Tracking Devices) Regulations, 2023; and Statutory Instrument 10 of 2025 which prohibits those below the age of 30 and without 5 years’ experience of driving a public passenger carrying vehicle.”
With regards to the post-crash management system, Minister Mhona said they were at an advanced stage towards the enactment of the Road Accident Fund Bill.
“We are also working on a Road Traffic Authority Bill which seeks to integrate VID, CVR, RMT and the TSCZ with regulatory and enforcement powers,” Minister Mhona said.
“We are also working towards promulgation of the following regulations: review of Statutory Instrument 309 of 1985- Road Traffic Driving Schools Regulations to improve the minimum standards required in registering and operating a driving school; E-hailing regulations; road transport cabotage regulations; penalty point (Demerit system) regulations; regulations on good Samaritan Law; Regulations on Student handbook and highway code; SI to regulate working hours of drivers, and SI on Hazardous defensive drivers’ certification.”
On operations, he said they continue to collaborate with the Ministry of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage in advancing the Smart Electronic Traffic Management System (ETMS).
The minister said they have also empowered the VID with 18 smart operational vehicles with advanced brake roller testers.
“Further, we have procured and donated breathalysers sourced by the Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe for use by the Zimbabwe Republic Police. In the same prism, we introduced a post-crash management system of stationing ambulances at strategic points such as toll gates and dangerous road spots to ensure immediate evacuation of the victims of road traffic accidents to medical facilities.
“We have also increased the axle-load and overload control through the national weighbridge programme and weigh-in-motion (WIM) systems, protecting the road asset from premature failure by rehabilitating 23 weighbridges and procurement of 18 more is under way.
“We continue to work on engineering safety improvements embedded in rehabilitation works, including road signage, markings, guard-rails, shoulders and grade-separated interchanges,” Minister Mhona said.
“We have also increased and revamped public road-safety awareness campaigns led and coordinated by the Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe.
“Within that framework, the TSCZ has rendered valuable support towards the renewal of pedestrian crossings, signs and road markings.
“Our efforts also include road fencing of new road stretches where there is prevalence of livestock crossings.”
He also applauded the Zimbabwe Passenger Transport Operators for the role they played in establishing the recently launched National Speed Monitoring System (NSMS) which is expected to enhance the monitoring and enforcement of speed limits through modern technology for public service vehicles.
