Venus Charumbira
Courts and Crimes Reporter
The Zimbabwe Republic Polices (ZRP) reports that road traffic accidents in Zimbabwe have doubled during the first part of the festive season compared to last year.
According to statistics released by the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP), a total number of 2,412 accidents were recorded from December 15 to December 26 this year whereas during the same period in 2024, the number was 1,211.
“The number of people killed also rose. This year, 100 people lost their lives, up from 77 last year. The number of people injured increased from 401 to 471”, said Commissioner Paul Nyathi
A breakdown of the deaths shows that passengers were the most affected group, with 44 killed. This was followed by pedestrians (37), drivers (10), riders (4), cyclists (3), and users of scotch carts (2).
The most serious fatal road accident occurred on December 17 on the Harare-Nyamapanda Road. A Honda Fit carrying ten people collided head-on with a haulage truck near the Suswe area, killing all ten occupants of the smaller vehicle.
Police identified several key factors in the accidents:
- Dangerous Driving, many head-on collisions were caused by drivers moving into oncoming traffic or making risky overtaking moves.
- Speeding, driving too fast was a major problem, often causing drivers to lose control of their vehicles, especially at night or in the early morning.
- Tyre Bursts, old, worn-out, or poor-quality tyres were a major cause of fatal crashes, particularly in public service vehicles like kombis. Police linked this to poor maintenance, overloading, and a failure to check vehicles before trips.
- Overloading, carrying too many people or goods makes vehicles unstable, puts too much pressure on tyres, and makes them harder to control.
The police also expressed concern over the high number of pedestrian deaths. They noted sadly that some pedestrians were hit by cars while walking on the road with headphones on, listening to music.
“Pedestrians are reminded to avoid jaywalking and to always use designated crossings points”, said Commissioner Paul Nyathi.
As the New Year holiday approaches, the ZRP has urged all motorists to strictly follow road rules and act responsibly to protect lives.
“We call on drivers to act responsible and be exemplary on the road to safe guard lives as the News Year holiday approaches”.
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