Road Accident Fund Bill Unveiled — A Lifeline for Crash Victims

The Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development has launched public consultations on the Road Accident Fund Bill, a proposed law aimed at improving road safety and providing financial support to victims of traffic accidents.

The consultations began Monday in Bulawayo and will continue across provinces, giving citizens a platform to contribute to the shaping of the legislation.

Approved in principle by Cabinet in June, the Bill seeks to provide timely medical assistance, funeral support, and compensation to crash victims and their families.

The Road Accident Fund will be financed primarily through motor vehicle insurance premiums.

It forms part of Zimbabwe’s broader strategy to reduce road traffic deaths and injuries by 2030, in line with the United Nations Decade of Action for Road Safety.

The consultations have attracted participation from key stakeholders, including the Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe (TSCZ), the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, other government ministries, and the Attorney General’s Office.

Delivering remarks on behalf of Transport Minister Felix Mhona, TSCZ board chairperson Kura Sibanda described the consultations as a landmark step in reforming Zimbabwe’s road safety framework.

“We are extremely delighted that we have convened this historic forum.

“Occasions of this nature provide us with a wonderful opportunity to share experiences and hear directly from the constituency which matters—the real stakeholders of road safety: members of the public,” he said.

TSCZ managing director Mr. Munesu Munodawafa attended the consultations on behalf of the ministry’s permanent secretary, Engineer Joy Makumbe.

In his prepared statement, Minister Mhona stressed the importance of involving all stakeholders in road safety and post-crash response systems.

“We have also committed ourselves to fully engaging all those who are in the ecosystem of road safety management and regulation in general, and post-crash management in particular,” he noted.

According to a Road Safety Performance Review launched by President Mnangagwa in January 2022, Zimbabwe records a traffic crash every 15 minutes, with over 35,000 crashes annually.

The report also revealed that at least five people die daily from road accidents, with more than 1,800 fatalities and 10,000 injuries recorded each year.

Minister Mhona acknowledged the technical and financial support provided by the United Nations Office of the Special Envoy on Road Safety during the review process.

Reporting on the consultations, The Herald highlighted the Bill’s potential to transform Zimbabwe’s post-crash emergency response. Minister Mhona elaborated:

“This entails the establishment of a coordinated post-crash regime, anchored on rapid response mechanisms, emergent medical facilities and health support services.”

He further emphasized the importance of aligning national efforts with international frameworks such as the UN’s Decade of Action for Road Safety (2021–2030), which aims to halve global road traffic deaths and injuries by 2030.

“The inclusion of specific road safety targets in Agenda 2030 reflects universal recognition that death and injury from road crashes are now among the most serious threats to countries’ sustainable development.

“This means that road safety cannot be compromised or traded off to achieve other social needs,” Mhona explained.

Outlining the five pillars guiding Zimbabwe’s road safety strategy—Road Safety Management, Safer Roads and Mobility, Road User Attitudes, Safer Vehicles, and a robust post-crash management model—Mhona described the Bill as a decisive move.

“While the Government has done much in other areas, this Road Accident Fund Bill we are here to formulate together is a solid commitment and right direction towards establishing a robust post-crash management regime within the framework of the Road Accident Fund (RAF),” he stated.

The consultations are expected to continue across provinces, with the ministry urging all stakeholders to actively participate in shaping a Bill that could redefine Zimbabwe’s approach to road safety and crash victim support.