Gideon Madzikatidze/Simbarashe Sithole
HARARE – As Zimbabwean schools reopen, Transport Minister Honourable Advocate Felix Tapiwa Mhona has issued a stark warning to motorists to prioritise road safety, following a devastating holiday season that claimed 100 lives and left 471 injured in road traffic crashes.
In a statement released this Tuesday, Mhona said road safety is not only a legal obligation but a moral duty and therefore urge drivers to ensure their vehicles are roadworthy, rest adequately, and avoid reckless behavior.
“As schools reopen for the first term, thousands of learners will be travelling daily to and from school. Their safety depends on the vigilance and responsibility of every motorist,” Mhona said.
“During the period 15th December to 26th December 2025, Zimbabwe lost 100 lives and recorded 471 injuries due to road traffic crashes – tragedies that were largely preventable. Too many of these accidents are caused by unroadworthy vehicles, reckless speeding, driver fatigue, and dangerous decisions such as attempting to cross flooded rivers,” Mhona added.
“I therefore urge all drivers to ensure their vehicles are properly maintained and roadworthy, to rest adequately before long journeys, and to avoid defective vehicles that put lives at risk. Speed limits must be respected, for speeding is not a demonstration of skill but a direct path to disaster. Overloading vehicles and driving under the influence of alcohol are reckless acts that destroy families and will be prosecuted,” Mhona warns.
“Road safety is not only a legal obligation but a moral duty. Every motorist carries the responsibility of ensuring that children arrive at school safely and that every traveler returns home alive. By obeying traffic laws and exercising vigilance, we can make this school term accident‑free,” he added.
Minister Mhona further announced that in order to reinforce these efforts, the Zimbabwe Republic Police, Vehicle Inspectorate Department, Road Motor Transportation, and the Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe will intensify joint enforcement and awareness campaigns.
“These measures are designed to save lives, not punish. Compliance is the surest way to protect our children and safeguard our nation’s future,” Mhona said.
Meanwhile, Chiefs and citizens across Zimbabwe have welcomed the proposed Road Accident Fund Bill, a critical step toward establishing a state-backed system to support victims of road traffic accidents.
The RAF Bill aims to provide timely medical aid, cover funeral expenses and offer compensation to the injured and families of the deceased.
Consultations led by the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development in Marondera, Mutare, Masvingo and Bindura were met with strong approval from traditional leaders and stakeholders.
Chiefs Mutasa, Chinamhora and Seke strongly backed the Bill while urging the Government to adopt wise, citizen-friendly funding models.
The RAF is designed to cover evacuation costs, medical and funeral expenses and other related claims, with its financing being reviewed periodically in consultation with the Minister of Finance.
The proposed Fund, modelled on regional examples, seeks to address the critical gap in post-crash care, where most citizens currently lack financial protection.
This move aligns with Finance Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube’s 2024 budget proposal for the government to administer third-party motor insurance, ensuring victims receive adequate and timely compensation – a function currently managed by private players.