By Chantelle Muzanenhamo
Zimbabwe’s Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development, Felix Mhona, has announced plans to introduce the Road Accident Fund (RAF) aimed at compensating victims of road accidents.
The announcement came shortly after he was awarded the Best Performing Minister of the Year 2024.
Speaking to journalists following his award, Mhona attributed the ministry’s progress to the visionary leadership of President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
“ We are happy that we are working, listening to what our great leader President Emmerson Mnangagwa is championing towards vision 2030,” he stated.
Addressing concerns about road safety, Mhona highlighted that his ministry is actively working with other government departments to draft stringent laws aimed at punishing reckless drivers.
“We hear your concerns. What I appreciate is that we are not working alone; we have a collaborative. You will see us collaborating with the police as well as with the Ministry of Legal Affairs and Justice to provide appropriate penalties to those who commit offenses,” he explained.
Despite increasing road accident statistics, Mhona emphasized that reckless driving, not poorly maintained roads, is the primary cause of these incidents.
“We are seeing that drivers are operating without care, and this is what is causing the increased accidents on the roads. It is particularly sad because people used to attribute accidents to poor road conditions, but now, many accidents are occurring on well-maintained roads. This means that if we disregard our responsibilities as those transporting many of Zimbabwe’s citizens, we continue to create accidents,” he argued.
To further bolster support for accident victims, Mhona underscored the importance of the proposed Road Accident Fund.
“What I want to express to the people of Zimbabwe is that we recognize that the government alone cannot carry this burden, so there is a Road Accident Fund we are working on to ensure that those who have lost loved ones receive compensation and that children left behind can continue their education,” he clarified.
However, specific details on how the government plans to finance the fund have not yet been disclosed, raising questions about its sustainability.
In neighboring South Africa, the RAF is funded through a levy on fuel used for road transport, a model that Zimbabwe may consider as discussions around the fund progress.
As the nation grapples with rising road safety challenges, Mhona’s commitment to introducing the RAF may serve as a crucial step toward improving support for victims and addressing the root causes of road accidents in Zimbabwe.