By Tendai Chisiri
HARARE – The Passengers Association of Zimbabwe has blamed Zimbabwe’s deteriorating road network and lax law enforcement for the country’s high rate of road accidents, calling on government to urgently re-engineer roads and overhaul roadblock procedures.
In a statement released this week, the Association’s National Coordinator Tafadzwa Goliati said poor road infrastructure is “a major contributor to road crashes” because it forces drivers to spend excessive hours on the road without safe places to rest.
“Transport operators do their best to maintain their vehicles, but dilapidated roads are not user-friendly. Poor infrastructure leads to frequent breakdowns, delays, and accidents,” Goliati said.
The Association also criticized law enforcement, saying police and Vehicle Inspection Department officers at roadblocks are failing to conduct proper checks.
“At roadblocks, VID and Police officers often remain stationary. Instead of inspecting the vehicle, they only speak to the conductor who presents a permit, while the driver is never checked. There is no vehicle inspection, no driver’s licence verification, and no breathalyzer test to determine whether the driver is under the influence of alcohol,” the statement read.
Goliati said this weak enforcement is why Zimbabwe continues to witness “so many preventable accidents.”
The Passengers Association has now appealed to the Ministry of Transport & Infrastructural Development to prioritize road re-engineering and rehabilitation. It also urged the Commissioner General of Police to review roadblock procedures and “place road safety first.”
“Only through decisive action can we reduce road crashes and save lives,” Goliati concluded.
Road accidents remain a major concern in Zimbabwe, with the Traffic Safety Council attributing most crashes to human error, speeding, and poor road conditions.
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