Driver's license training material to be translated into Ndebele and Shona

Government will this year introduce driver's license training material in vernacular languages as part of efforts to improve the quality of driving in the country and encourage prospective drivers to get licenses.

In an interview, Permanent secretary in the Ministry of Transport, Communication and Infrastructural development Mr Munesu Munodawafa said the policy was at an advanced stage and would be unveiled before June.

"Zimbabwe is now in a new era and it is only right that those with the serious intention of learning how to drive do so without hassles.

"Presenting the material in English makes it difficult for those with minimum education qualifications to timeously get their drivers licenses, yet driving is practical and can be done as long as someone understands what is being done," he said.

Mr Munodawafa said the move would go a long way in ensuring that competent drivers get licenses while giving the majority of the population equal opportunities to get one.

Apart from the three official languages Shona, Ndebele, and English, Zimbabwe also has other indigenous languages which include Tonga, Nambya, Kalanga, Sotho, Venda and Shangani.

The Vehicle Inspectorate Department (VID) has over the years being marred by corruption with most people bribing inspectors to get fake drivers licences after failing to pass tests and inspectors taking advantage of the situation to enrich themselves.

The situation has put road users, with passengers, mostly, at risk leading to an increase in the number of accidents on the country''s roads.

Last year, a record 200 people died  in road accidents during the festive season and most of the cases were suspected to be results of poor driving .