Zimbabwe's overloaded buses to be offloaded, vehicles to be impounded

Authorities in Zimbabwe have launched a strict road safety campaign ahead of the festive season, aimed at reducing the high incidence of road traffic accidents, particularly those involving overloaded and defective vehicles. Passengers in overcrowded buses will be offloaded, while vehicles that fail to meet roadworthiness or compliance standards will be impounded.

The campaign, spearheaded by the Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe (TSCZ), began on December 15 and will run until January 15. It will deploy at least five smart enforcement vehicles and breathalysers, with the number of patrolling teams increased from 55 last year to 61 this festive period. Of these, 34 teams will remain static while 27 will be mobile, according to TSCZ Managing Director Munesu Munodawafa.

Mr Munodawafa said the initiative is being implemented in collaboration with other government agencies, including the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development and the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP). Officers from the Vehicle Inspectorate Department, Central Vehicle Registry, and Road Motor Transportation Department will also participate in the enforcement drive.

"The campaign will feature both enforcement and education," Munodawafa said. "Where there is overloading, people will be offloaded. No compromise. Inconvenient as it may be, we have to take measures to save lives."

Smart enforcement vehicles will monitor compliance, checking all paperwork for public transport operators, including insurance, roadworthiness, and compliance with Zimbabwe National Road Administration (Zinara) and Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) regulations. Any vehicle with outstanding or invalid documentation will be impounded until all requirements are met, Munodawafa warned.

The Government has also bolstered the campaign with new equipment, including 100 breathalysers, 15 breathalyser printers, and 1 000 disposable breathing apparatus, ensuring authorities can detect and deter drunk driving effectively.

The campaign comes in response to a worrying rise in road accidents during recent festive periods. During the 2025 Heroes and Defence Forces holidays, Zimbabwe recorded 24 fatalities and 96 injuries, up from 16 deaths and 77 injuries in 2024. A particularly tragic incident last week saw 10 people killed in a head-on collision involving a Honda Fit and a haulage truck. All victims were passengers in the Honda Fit, a vehicle designed to carry only four passengers and a driver. Following the crash, President Emmerson Mnangagwa declared the incident a State of Disaster, pledging government support to assist bereaved families with funeral expenses.

The TSCZ has emphasised that these tough measures are necessary to prevent further loss of life and ensure safer travel for Zimbabweans during the busy holiday season.