Staff Reporter
HARARE – Government is fast-tracking the establishment of a State-administered Road Accident Fund (RAF) that will provide immediate assistance to people injured or killed in road traffic accidents without requiring victims to first prove who was at fault.
Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Felix Mhona said the Road Accident Fund Administration Bill was now at an advanced stage following nationwide consultations.
“The Road Accident Fund Administration Bill is now at an advanced stage following the consultations that we have been undertaking countrywide,” Minister Mhona said.
The proposed legislation is expected to overhaul Zimbabwe’s road accident compensation system, which currently relies on compulsory third-party motor insurance administered by private insurance companies.
Under the proposed no-fault system, victims would be able to access assistance for critical needs such as evacuation, medical treatment and funeral expenses without having to wait for lengthy processes to establish liability.
The move comes against the backdrop of growing concern over road traffic accidents, including the recent Chivhu tragedy along the Harare-Masvingo Highway, in which 28 people were killed and six others injured after a commuter omnibus collided head-on with a haulage truck.
President Mnangagwa subsequently declared a State of Disaster following the accident.
Preliminary police investigations indicated that the haulage truck was attempting to overtake another vehicle when it collided with the oncoming commuter omnibus.
Minister Mhona said the proposed RAF would be funded from the existing compulsory motor insurance premium.
Under the proposed financing model, 35 percent of the current US$35.65 standard premium would be channelled towards the Road Accident Fund.
A further 34.3 percent would remain with insurance companies to meet liabilities relating to vehicle damage and other claims, while the remaining 30.7 percent would cover brokerage fees, contributions to the Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe, stamp duty and the Insurance and Pensions Commission levy.
The fund would be periodically reviewed in consultation with the Treasury, with Government also considering additional sources of revenue to strengthen its sustainability.
Minister Mhona said the new system would ensure that victims receive assistance without having to wait for a determination of fault.
“The whole idea is to make sure that when an accident occurs, we are able to assist the victims immediately, particularly with evacuation, medical treatment and funeral expenses,” he said.
He said the reform was intended to address delays under the current system, where victims and bereaved families may have to wait while liability is established.
Meanwhile, Government is also considering the establishment of an integrated road traffic authority to strengthen accident prevention and road safety.
Minister Mhona said the proposed institution would bring together key functions currently spread across agencies such as the Vehicle Inspection Department, Road Motor Transportation and the Central Vehicle Registry.
The authority would strengthen vehicle inspections, enforcement, accident investigations, route management and cross-border transportation.
“We need an integrated road traffic authority that brings together all the key players in road traffic management so that we can strengthen enforcement, vehicle inspections and accident investigations,” Minister Mhona said.
The twin approach of improving post-crash assistance while strengthening road safety institutions is expected to form part of Government’s broader efforts to reduce road carnage and improve the country’s road transport management system.
