THE Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC) has blamed the Transport and Infrastructural Development ministry for failing to organise the transport sector, resulting in a sharp increase in road traffic accidents, which doubled last year.
The Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe says 94% of road accidents in the country are caused by human error, while cellphone distractions among drivers and pedestrians cause about 10% of deaths.
In a statement, ZHRC noted that lack of a mass public transport system has resulted in pressure on pirate kombis, popularly known as mishikashika.
“The ZHRC notes that a disorganised transport sector overwhelms law enforcement capabilities. Coupled with deteriorating road infrastructure, potholes, missing signage and non-functional traffic lights, the environment becomes predictably hazardous, especially during high-volume periods like the festive season,” the statement read.
“The lack of a mass public transport system results in pressure on private transport operators who step in to save the public from the shortage of transport.
“Drivers in the informal transport sector often face extreme economic pressure to complete more trips, leading to dangerous practices such as overloading, speeding, overtaking on blind curves, driving while fatigued and ignoring traffic laws.”
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The Zimbabwe Republic Police recently released worrying road traffic accident statistics for the 2025 festive season, covering the period from December 15 to 26, 2025.
The figures doubled from 1 211 in 2024 to a staggering 2 412 in 2025.
ZHRC added that the high death toll among passengers and pedestrians gravely affected the less privileged, the elderly, women and children.
“Through its human rights monitoring and assessment functions, ZHRC notes that lack of reliable, affordable formal public transport led to the proliferation of poorly maintained vehicles, including unroadworthy buses, kombis and private cars operating as informal taxis.
“Crowding turns these vehicles into mass death traps, significantly increasing fatality rates when accidents occur, as evidenced by the high passenger death toll, not to mention the indignity the commuting public suffers from being packed into those vehicles.”
In a bid to mitigate the road traffic carnage, the rights body urged the government to conduct an immediate inquiry into the causes, with findings made public.
“The government should urgently invest in a formalised, regulated and safe public transport system, including reliable buses, proper terminals and trained, fairly compensated drivers,” the statement said.
“It must also provide for the enjoyment of emergency medical care for all at any institution, as required by the Constitution.
“It should prioritise infrastructure development for pedestrian walkways, bicycle lanes and road repairs to protect vulnerable users, and develop a National Road Safety Strategy that is holistic, well-funded, and recognises safe mobility as a non-negotiable human right.
“The ZHRC, therefore, recommends that the government of Zimbabwe conducts an immediate inquiry into the causes of the road carnage, with findings made public."
According to the World Health Organisation, Zimbabwe has one of the highest rates of fatal traffic accidents in Africa, with approximately 30 deaths per 100 000 inhabitants.