Online Reporter
Rutendo Nyeve, Victoria Falls Reporter
THE Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development is today conducting the final round of its national public consultations on the Road Accident Fund (RAF) Bill in Victoria Falls.
The key session marks the culmination of a week-long nationwide exercise that commenced last week, engaging stakeholders in Marondera, Mutare, Masvingo and Bindura.
The consultations aim to gather critical public input into the proposed RAF, a social safety net designed to transform post-crash response and victim support in Zimbabwe.
The fund’s primary objective is to establish a no-fault compensation system. This will ensure that every citizen involved in a road traffic accident, including vulnerable road users, receives timely support without the need to prove liability — a process that currently causes significant delays and financial hardship for victims.
A central feature of the RAF is addressing the critical “golden hour” after an accident by funding rapid emergency evacuation and medical care, a gap identified in the current system.
The fund is proposed to be resourced by allocating 35 percent of the existing third-party insurance premium, with the insurance industry retaining 34.3 percent for vehicle damage claims. Expenditure from the RAF will cover capped costs for evacuation, medical expenses, funeral costs and related claims.
The initiative comes against a backdrop of sobering national statistics, where a crash occurs every 15 minutes, claiming at least five lives daily.
The RAF is positioned as a cornerstone for achieving Zimbabwe’s road safety targets under the UN Decade of Action and the National Development Strategy.
The consultations underway in Victoria Falls present an opportunity for local stakeholders and members of the public to contribute to the legislation, ensuring it is robust, inclusive and effectively serves all Zimbabweans.
