Zimbabwean drivers who cause fatal accidents could soon face jail time, while repeat traffic offenders may risk having their licences suspended or permanently cancelled, as government mulls over tighter regulations to curb rising road carnage.
The latest proposals — championed by the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development — come amid growing concern over reckless driving and its devastating consequences on the country’s roads.
Speaking during a Safe Driving Conference held in Harare, Deputy Minister Joshua Sacco confirmed that new punitive measures are on the cards, following a directive from President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
“For us as a ministry, this is a clear direction we have been given by His Excellency… that more punitive measures have to be put in place to save lives,” said Sacco.
The comments come at a time when road accidents are on an alarming upward trend. According to Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) statistics, the country recorded 28,159 road crashes between January and June 2025 — a sharp increase from 25,968 during the same period last year.
Many citizens have expressed frustration over what they view as lenient penalties for dangerous drivers. Currently, even cases involving multiple fatalities due to driver negligence may result in community service — a fact that Deputy Minister Sacco described as “strange” and disproportionate.
ZRP’s Chief Staff Officer for the Electronic Traffic Management System, Commissioner Gift Hlabiso, echoed the call for legal reform, arguing that current fines are not effective deterrents.
“The fines somehow appear affordable, hence not deterrent enough to the extent that violators are somehow motivated to repeat bad practices,” said Hlabiso.
Among the proposed interventions are:
•Custodial sentences for drivers found guilty of culpable homicide.
•A driver demerit system, under which repeat offenders could lose their licences.
•A nationwide public hotline to report reckless drivers.
•Digital enforcement systems that link unpaid fines to vehicle licence renewals, effectively blocking vehicle registration until penalties are settled.
The ministry is also pushing for tighter regulations on vehicle ownership transfers, as many traffic fines and accident liabilities currently remain linked to previous vehicle owners due to poor registration practices.
“We will look into this with CVR, Zinara and Zimra,” said Sacco.
The government is expected to lobby Parliament to amend existing laws and close legal loopholes that allow dangerous drivers to remain on the roads.
