Harare, (New Ziana) – The proposed Road Accident Fund Bill will create a coordinated social safety protection system for victims of traffic accidents.
Transport and Infrastructure Development Minister Felix Mhona said this during a stakeholder consultation in Harare, urging broad public support.
He said consultations had already been conducted across all provinces to gather input on the draft legislation.
“Concerned about calamities caused by road traffic accidents, the government is treating road safety management seriously. On our programming agenda, we continue to formulate robust legislative frameworks and sound policies that address fatalities on our roads,” he said.
“The Road Accident Fund Bill, which we are proposing, is designed to offer timely medical aid, cover funeral expenses, and provide compensation to those injured and the families of those killed in road accidents,” he added.
Mhona said apart from assisting road accident victims, the Bill will also ring-fence resources dedicated to road rehabilitation.
He emphasized that the initiative is not only about post-crash compensation, but also about prevention.
“A portion of the funds will be channelled towards the rehabilitation of accident-prone infrastructure in all parts of the country,” he said.
Funding for the Road Accident Fund would come from multiple sources, including 35 percent of third-party motor vehicle insurance contributions, traffic fines, fuel levies, and other streams.
Zimbabwe records more than 35 000 accidents annually, with a traffic crash occurring every 15 minutes, according to national statistics. The Bill is expected to provide relief to thousands of families affected by road accidents each year.
The meeting was attended by transport operators, legislators, senior government officials, and other stakeholders.
New Ziana
