Bulawayo, \ (New Ziana) – Road safety is a critical national priority which should be integrated into the developmental agenda, a Cabinet Minister has said. Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister, Felix Mhona said this on Tuesday at the launch of the first public consultation meeting for the proposed Road Accident Fund Bill here.
The launch of the fund, among other things, seeks to provide an inclusive social safety net for all crash victims, regardless of fault. The meeting brought together stakeholders across government, civil society, insurance, transport, academia, emergency services, and the media.
“We cannot afford to treat road safety as a stand-alone issue anymore. It is a critical national priority and must be integrated into every development agenda to improve post-crash response and victim support mechanisms across the country. “We cannot afford to treat road safety as a stand-alone issue anymore. It is a critical national priority and must be integrated into every development agenda. The Road Accident Fund will provide an inclusive social safety net for all crash victims, regardless of fault,” said Mhona.
He described the fund as a game changer in the country’s ongoing efforts to reduce the tragic impact of traffic accidents, and reform road safety management systems. The consultative exercise comes at a pivotal time as the country is working to align its road safety framework with global targets set under the UN Decade of Action for Road Safety (2021–2030), which aims to reduce road traffic deaths and injuries by at least 50 percent by 2030. A
ccording to Minister Mhona, Zimbabwe records a traffic accident every 15 minutes, with more than 1,800 people dying annually, and over 10,000 injured in road crashes. Five lives are lost daily on average. He cited these statistics as a reminder of the urgency needed in developing mechanisms that save lives beyond prevention, especially after crashes occur.
“Rapid post-crash response during the so-called ‘Golden Hour’, the critical 60 minutes after a crash can mean the difference between life and death. “Our current systems are weak, and we are now acting decisively to fix that,” he said.
The proposed Road Accident Fund, which will be non-fault-based, seeks to address several critical post-crash gaps by covering evacuation costs from accident scenes, medical treatment and rehabilitation for crash victims.
“It will also cover compensation for pain, disfigurement, and funeral expenses, as regulated by the minister. There will be support for vulnerable road users, including pedestrians, cyclists, and passengers,” said Mhona. He also highlighted that victims will no longer need to prove liability or negligence in order to receive support.
“The delays and legal hurdles in processing third-party claims are unacceptable. The Road Accident Fund removes this complexity and puts the focus back where it should be on helping victims and families rebuild their lives,” he explained.
Under the proposed Bill, 35 percent of the remaining third-party insurance pool currently retained largely by insurers will be allocated to fund the Road Accident Fund. The remaining 34,3 percent will continue to be used by insurers to settle claims for loss or vehicle damage.
The fund will operate under a clear legislative framework with oversight by a dedicated board, and amounts payable to victims will be periodically reviewed through ministerial regulations, said Mhona.
He noted that the Bill will also be integrated with broader road sector legislative reforms, including digitalization of accident reporting and claims, penal point systems for reckless drivers, stricter licensing for public transport operators and monitoring and regulation of driving schools “This is not just about compensation, it’s about transforming the entire road safety ecosystem. We are revolutionising how we handle accidents from prevention to response to rehabilitation,” Mhona said.
He further said the proposed Bill is expected to be a central part of Zimbabwe’s contribution toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those on health (SDG 3) and safe transport systems (SDG 11.2). “Road safety is not a cost, it is an investment in human capital,” he said.
New Ziana
