Over 13,000 people injured in road traffic accidents annually – govt
Zimbabwe records an average of 40,000 road traffic accidents each year, resulting in an estimated US$406 million in annual losses, Transport Minister Felix Mhona has said.
He added that approximately 13,680 people are injured in road accidents across the country each year.
Mhona made the remarks on Friday while commissioning operational vehicles and brake-roller testers for the Vehicle Inspection Department (VID), as well as handing over breathalysers to the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP).
He bemoaned the deteriorating state of the country’s roads, adding that there has been a worrying rise in both accidents and fatalities.
Transport Minister Felix Mhona
“Zimbabwe faces a severe road safety crisis, with recent reports indicating that on average, five people die every day on the roads in Zimbabwe and this translates to 153 persons killed per month. On average, 38 people are injured every day on the roads in Zimbabwe, and this translates to 13,680 persons injured annually.
“The country loses about US$406 million annually from an average 40,000 road traffic accidents every year, translating to 3% of GDP lost due to road crashes,” he said.
To curb the crisis, Mhona said several interventions, among them the Emergency Road Rehabilitation Programme (ERRP) and the Road Development Programme (RDP), have begun to significantly improve the state of roads and overall safety.
He highlighted that the introduction of the Zimbabwe Integrated Transport Management Information System (ZIMTIS) marks a shift away from outdated, paper-based systems toward a centralised digital platform aimed at modernising road-traffic management.
ZIMTIS integrates modules for vehicle registration, licensing and inspection data, creating what Mhona described as a more streamlined and transparent system. He added that the vehicles handed over to VID would improve inspectors’ mobility, allowing them to cover remote areas and conduct more effective roadside checks.
“Further, we have advanced brake roller testers. The brake system is arguably the most critical safety component of any vehicle. These testers provide objective, data-driven, and irrefutable evidence of a vehicle’s braking capability.
“They eliminate guesswork, preventing corruption, and ensuring that every vehicle that passes through our inspection stations meets a stringent, scientifically verified standard,” Mhona said.
He also commended the Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe for donating breathalysers to ZRP, an intervention he said is crucial ahead of the festive season, when road carnage typically spikes.
Speaking to NewZimbabwe.com on the sidelines of the event, Transport and Infrastructure Development Ministry Permanent Secretary Joy Makumbe said, “The breathalysers we have handed over to ZRP will ensure there is a collaborative effort between VID and ZRP on the roads.” _*NewZimbabwe*_
