The re-introduction of breathalysers is being overshadowed by an outdated legal blood-alcohol limit and a weak policy framework, the Southern African Alcohol Policy Alliance (SAAPA) in Zimbabwe has warned.
This came out during a Regional Media Workers’ Conversation held on Monday, where advocates, researchers and journalists from seven southern African countries examined links between alcohol availability, gender-based violence and road safety.
SAAPA Zimbabwe coordinator, Tungamirirai Zimonte, said although the country has a legal blood-alcohol concentration (BAC) limit of 0.08g per 100ml under the Road Traffic Act, the limit is outdated and out of step with both World Health Organization guidelines and regional trends.
“Most countries now use 0.05, and the WHO recommends zero tolerance for public-transport and commercial drivers—a crucial gap given Zimbabwe’s reliance on commuter transport,” Zimonte said.
He noted that enforcement has long been weak due to a lack of reliable testing equipment, and that the legal framework has not been modernised to link drink-driving enforcement with broader alcohol-control policies.
“Breathalysers catch harm; policy prevents harm,” Zimonte said.
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The Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe recorded 52,288 crashes in 2024, resulting in 2,015 deaths and more than 10,000 injuries.
Human error, including reckless driving, speeding and alcohol impairment, remains the leading cause.
“These are not just numbers; they represent preventable deaths and preventable harm,” Zimonte added.
He urged authorities to harmonise alcohol policy with the National Drug Master Plan, arguing that a unified approach would close enforcement gaps, improve licensing oversight, and align drink-driving laws with public health strategy.
He said regional comparisons highlight Zimbabwe’s challenges.
South Africa recorded 12,172 road fatalities in 2024—a rate of 19.3 deaths per 100,000 people—while Botswana continues to grapple with high accident rates linked to speeding and alcohol.
The Monday dialogue reiterated that alcohol remains a key factor in intimate partner violence, sexual assault, community trauma and youth vulnerability across the region, underscoring the need for evidence-based, community-centred regulation.