HARARE, Dec. 17 (NewsDay Live) – Government has launched a festive-season highway emergency rescue operation, deploying ambulances and medical teams at tollgates and accident black spots in a bid to reduce road fatalities during one of the country’s most perilous travel periods.
The temporary intervention, announced by Transport and Infrastructural Development minister Felix Mhona at the launch of the 2025 Festive Season Road Safety Education, Enforcement and Awareness Campaign in Juru, Mashonaland East, marks a strategic shift in the country’s road safety approach — moving beyond enforcement to prioritise rapid post-crash medical care.
Under the short-term framework approved by the ministry, ambulances equipped with essential medical equipment and staffed by trained personnel have been positioned along major highways and high-risk routes for the duration of the festive season.
“To demonstrate the seriousness of government with regard to post-crash management, the ministry has approved a short-term framework to ensure that during the festive season, when accident rates are high, ambulances equipped with medical paraphernalia and personnel are stationed at all tollgates and accident-prone spots. In that vein, the TSCZ has hired ambulances for that purpose,” Mhona said.
The deployment is being coordinated by the Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe (TSCZ) in partnership with the Civil Protection Unit, the Ministry of Health and Child Care, and the Zimbabwe Republic Police.
“The TSCZ will work closely with the Civil Protection Unit, the Ministry of Health and Child Care, and the Zimbabwe Republic Police to ensure that those involved in accidents are evacuated to medical facilities. I urge the TSCZ to raise awareness of this short-term post-crash management programme so that members of the public are aware of its existence and how it works,” he added.
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Officials say the initiative aims to drastically cut emergency response times at a period when traffic volumes surge, weather conditions deteriorate, and accident rates spike.
During the Christmas and New Year holidays, millions of people travel across Zimbabwe and the region, stretching already dangerous roads to capacity.
“Government is not aloof to calamities caused by road traffic accidents. We treat road safety management seriously. High on our programming agenda is the continued formulation of sound policies, robust legislative frameworks, and administrative modalities to mitigate the impact of fatalities on our roads,” Mhona said.
The emergency deployment underscores growing recognition that survival after a crash often depends less on punitive measures and more on how quickly medical assistance arrives.
Zimbabwe records approximately 40 000 road traffic accidents annually, resulting in about 2 000 deaths and more than 13 000 injuries. Road crashes cost the economy over US$400 million each year — about 3% of GDP — through lost productivity, healthcare expenses, and damaged infrastructure.
Road safety experts have long warned that delays in evacuating victims remain a critical weakness in many low- and middle-income countries. The first hour after a crash, known as the “golden hour,” is widely regarded as the window in which timely medical intervention can prevent death or permanent injury.
Authorities have urged the TSCZ to publicise how the emergency system works, ensuring motorists and passengers know that help is available and how to access it quickly in the event of a crash.
While temporary, the deployment foreshadows a broader overhaul of post-crash care.
Earlier this year, Cabinet approved principles for a Road Accident Fund to establish a stand-alone national system guaranteeing evacuation, medical treatment, and funeral assistance for road crash victims, largely funded through third-party motor insurance. Nationwide consultations on the fund are expected to conclude in early 2026.
As holiday traffic intensifies, government has urged drivers, passengers, and pedestrians to act responsibly.