Online Reporter
Freeman Razemba
Senior Reporter
THE Government has launched nationwide public consultations on the proposed Road Accident Fund Bill, a landmark piece of legislation aimed at establishing a comprehensive support system for victims.
Led by Transport and Infrastructural Development Permanent Secretary Engineer Joy Makumbe, the consultations began in Marondera yesterday and will move to Mutare, Masvingo, Bindura and Victoria Falls this week.
The Bill seeks to provide timely medical care, cover funeral expenses and offer compensation to the injured and families of the deceased, fundamentally reforming post-crash response.
“A traffic crash occurs every 15 minutes in Zimbabwe,” Eng Makumbe said, citing the 2022 Road Safety Performance Review launched by President Mnangagwa.
“Over 35 000 crashes occur annually, claiming at least five lives daily. This fund is critical to address the gap in our post-crash management.”
The proposed fund represents a shift to a no-fault compensation system, removing the need for victims to prove liability — a process that often causes long delays in settlements under the current third-party insurance model. A major focus is ensuring rapid emergency response and medical evacuation within the first critical hour after an accident to save lives and reduce long-term injury.
The fund will be financed by reallocating a portion of the existing third-party insurance premium. Under the proposal, 35 percent of the premium would go to the Road Accident Fund, while insurance companies would retain 34.3 percent to cover vehicle damage and other claims.
The remaining percentage is distributed to brokers and regulatory bodies.
The fund will cover evacuation costs, medical expenses, funeral costs, and other related claims, with specific caps to be set by regulation.
The Bill is part of a wider legislative overhaul, including plans to strengthen the Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe, digitise enforcement, introduce a penalty points system for drivers and regulate driving schools strictly.
Stakeholders from multiple Government ministries, insurance companies, transport associations, emergency services and civil society attended the consultation, demonstrating the cross-sectoral importance of the proposed law.
