Zimbabwe cracks down on overloaded trucks

Government has announced a major nationwide crackdown on truck overloading, with new penalties set to hit transport operators who breach weight regulations in what officials say is a decisive push to protect Zimbabwe's rapidly deteriorating highways.

Transport and Infrastructural Development permanent secretary Joy Makumbe said this week that heavy-duty vehicles found carrying excess loads will face immediate fines, marking one of the most aggressive enforcement drives the country has seen in recent years. The initiative comes as Cabinet has approved the revival and expansion of weighbridge systems across the national road network.

"A truck that is overloading is going to be fined," Makumbe warned, urging operators to act responsibly in the interest of national infrastructure. "Let us not be selfish. This infrastructure is for everybody. Load with discipline. Load with the future in mind."

Her comments reflect growing government frustration with persistent non-compliance in the trucking sector. For years, overloaded vehicles have contributed heavily to pothole formation, structural fatigue on key highways, rising maintenance costs and increased accident risks — particularly along major transit routes linking Zimbabwe to South Africa, Zambia, Mozambique, Malawi and the DRC.

Makumbe revealed that the Vehicle Inspectorate Department has been equipped with smart vehicles and mobile inspection units to ensure that offenders are monitored and penalised in real time. "VID will be out in full force," she said. "Those who don't want to obey the law will be made to obey the law."

The restoration of weighbridges — many of which have been non-functional or irregularly monitored — is expected to strengthen compliance and reduce the number of trucks escaping enforcement. Previously, weak monitoring systems, understaffing and inadequate equipment allowed violations to go unchecked for years.

Zimbabwe's roads, already weakened by limited funding, ageing surfaces and harsh weather, are especially vulnerable to the strain of overloaded haulage vehicles. Engineers warn that a truck exceeding its legal capacity by just 20 percent can inflict exponentially greater damage compared to one operating within regulation, accelerating road degradation and repair demand.

Officials say the long-term economic cost of ignoring the problem is immense — from disrupted trade and logistics delays to ballooning road rehabilitation expenses now weighing heavily on the public purse. With enforcement set to intensify, government hopes the clampdown will restore discipline on the highways and extend the lifespan of critical transport corridors.