News / National
Zimbabwe drivers will need medical report to renew licences
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Seventy-year-old Sekuru Moyo was unsettled when he read a newspaper report suggesting that all local drivers might soon be required to undergo mandatory retesting. For Moyo, whose daily life revolves around driving his two young grandchildren to and from school and making regular trips from Marondera to his small farm in Macheke, the prospect of retesting felt like a direct threat to his independence.
"How will I be able to book for these retests?" he asked, visibly anxious. "I don't think I still have the stamina to go through this process. What happens if I fail the tests?"
Moyo's concerns have been echoed across the country, with both private and public drivers expressing confusion and frustration over the perceived policy. Commuter omnibus driver Farai Chari warned of a potential breakdown in the system, citing already long delays and backlogs at the Vehicle Inspectorate Department (VID).
"The queues will be endless, the delays unbearable," Chari said. "VID is already struggling with its current workload. How on earth will they cope with retesting every single driver?"
However, government officials have clarified that no blanket retest requirement is being introduced. Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Felix Mhona told The Sunday Mail Society that the confusion stemmed from a misinterpretation of existing regulations under the Southern African Development Community (SADC) licence framework.
"There is no new proposal for a blanket retest system for all drivers," Minister Mhona stated. "The mandatory five-year retesting policy only applies to public service vehicle (PSV) drivers and those operating freight vehicles over 10 tonnes."
According to Statutory Instrument 168 of 2006, PSV drivers must undergo regular retests, which include road tests, verification of defensive driving certificates, and medical examinations. This regulation has been in place for nearly two decades and is part of efforts to ensure that drivers operating high-risk vehicles remain competent and compliant with safety standards.
For ordinary private vehicle drivers, the renewal of the new SADC licence, which expires every five years, will only require biometric updates and a medical check - not a full driving test.
Minister Mhona emphasised that the purpose of the retesting policy is to maintain a rigorous professional driving standard and combat the proliferation of fake licences. It also serves as a mechanism to ensure that PSV drivers - who must be aged between 30 and 70 - are healthy, experienced, and fully qualified to transport passengers and hazardous materials.
The policy comes against the backdrop of alarming statistics regarding road accidents in Zimbabwe. Data from the Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe (TSCZ) shows that 94 percent of traffic crashes are caused by human error. Between 2019 and 2022, nearly 9 000 lives were lost in road accidents, with 2 079 fatalities recorded in 2022 alone. The most common causes include driver inattention, speeding, reckless driving, use of mobile phones while driving, and alcohol consumption.
TSCZ managing director Munesu Munodawafa defended the retesting regime, particularly for professional drivers, stating it plays a vital role in improving road safety.
"Our role is to ensure that roads are a safe place and drivers understand that the idea of driving is to move people from point A to point B in the safest way possible," said Munodawafa.
Similarly, African Road Safety Observatory's Roads4Life advocate Tatenda Chinoda supported retesting as a necessary tool to preserve lives.
"Retesting is not just about paperwork," Chinoda noted. "It is about ensuring every driver meets minimum competency standards."
However, the policy has not gone unchallenged. Critics argue that mandatory retesting, on its own, cannot solve Zimbabwe's road safety crisis. Harare businesswoman Nomusa Nkala pointed out that public transport drivers, who are already subject to retests, continue to be involved in deadly crashes.
"Driver behaviour is influenced by more than just retesting - enforcement, road conditions, and personal attitudes all play a part," she said.
Pious Chidzenga, president of the Zimbabwe Union of Drivers and Conductors, called for a more holistic approach. He questioned the logic of retesting drivers who are already active daily on the roads but stressed the importance of regular medical evaluations to ensure they are fit to drive.
Others, like Ngoni Katsvairo of the Greater Harare Association of Commuter Operators, argued that existing road tests do little to enhance driver safety. He advocated for strengthening the defensive driving course system and making it more frequent. Katsvairo also suggested making the course mandatory for private drivers every five years and enhancing medical screening during licence renewal.
"Drunk driving, reckless behaviour, and corruption during testing must also be addressed through better enforcement and smart technologies," he said.
Some experts have gone further, calling for a one-stop-shop model where all driver evaluations - including defensive courses, medicals, and road tests - are done in a single location to reduce bureaucracy and delays.
Edmore Tirivanhu Gwegwe, chairperson of the Harare Youths Transporters Association, voiced support for retesting PSV drivers but warned that the system must also account for drivers who have had their licences for years but never gained sufficient real-world experience.
"Retests are essential in such cases, but the process must be streamlined," he said. "There should also be designated training institutions like CMED to ensure all drivers are trained to the same high standard."
Cost was another concern raised, with stakeholders urging the Government to ensure affordability in retesting and licence renewal processes to avoid financially burdening citizens.
Minister Mhona stressed that Zimbabwe's system is in line with international standards. He cited examples from countries like the United Kingdom, where specific driver categories are retested based on age and licence type, and from within the Zimbabwean Government itself, where drivers of official vehicles are required to pass retests.
Learnmore Zulu, a Zimbabwean recently returned from Australia, said in many developed nations, licences expire after a certain period, and renewal typically includes simple administrative steps, vision tests, and in some cases, evaluations for elderly or high-risk drivers - but not widespread retesting.
As the public continues to digest the evolving policy, many are calling for national dialogue that moves beyond retesting. Stakeholders argue that a comprehensive road safety strategy is needed - one that combines smarter enforcement, stronger penalties, better infrastructure, continuous education, and an aggressive crackdown on corruption.
For now, the Ministry of Transport insists that the retesting system targets specific categories of professional drivers and that most motorists, like Sekuru Moyo, need not worry about a surprise trip to the testing yard - unless, of course, they're behind the wheel of a PSV.
"How will I be able to book for these retests?" he asked, visibly anxious. "I don't think I still have the stamina to go through this process. What happens if I fail the tests?"
Moyo's concerns have been echoed across the country, with both private and public drivers expressing confusion and frustration over the perceived policy. Commuter omnibus driver Farai Chari warned of a potential breakdown in the system, citing already long delays and backlogs at the Vehicle Inspectorate Department (VID).
"The queues will be endless, the delays unbearable," Chari said. "VID is already struggling with its current workload. How on earth will they cope with retesting every single driver?"
However, government officials have clarified that no blanket retest requirement is being introduced. Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Felix Mhona told The Sunday Mail Society that the confusion stemmed from a misinterpretation of existing regulations under the Southern African Development Community (SADC) licence framework.
"There is no new proposal for a blanket retest system for all drivers," Minister Mhona stated. "The mandatory five-year retesting policy only applies to public service vehicle (PSV) drivers and those operating freight vehicles over 10 tonnes."
According to Statutory Instrument 168 of 2006, PSV drivers must undergo regular retests, which include road tests, verification of defensive driving certificates, and medical examinations. This regulation has been in place for nearly two decades and is part of efforts to ensure that drivers operating high-risk vehicles remain competent and compliant with safety standards.
For ordinary private vehicle drivers, the renewal of the new SADC licence, which expires every five years, will only require biometric updates and a medical check - not a full driving test.
Minister Mhona emphasised that the purpose of the retesting policy is to maintain a rigorous professional driving standard and combat the proliferation of fake licences. It also serves as a mechanism to ensure that PSV drivers - who must be aged between 30 and 70 - are healthy, experienced, and fully qualified to transport passengers and hazardous materials.
The policy comes against the backdrop of alarming statistics regarding road accidents in Zimbabwe. Data from the Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe (TSCZ) shows that 94 percent of traffic crashes are caused by human error. Between 2019 and 2022, nearly 9 000 lives were lost in road accidents, with 2 079 fatalities recorded in 2022 alone. The most common causes include driver inattention, speeding, reckless driving, use of mobile phones while driving, and alcohol consumption.
TSCZ managing director Munesu Munodawafa defended the retesting regime, particularly for professional drivers, stating it plays a vital role in improving road safety.
"Our role is to ensure that roads are a safe place and drivers understand that the idea of driving is to move people from point A to point B in the safest way possible," said Munodawafa.
Similarly, African Road Safety Observatory's Roads4Life advocate Tatenda Chinoda supported retesting as a necessary tool to preserve lives.
"Retesting is not just about paperwork," Chinoda noted. "It is about ensuring every driver meets minimum competency standards."
However, the policy has not gone unchallenged. Critics argue that mandatory retesting, on its own, cannot solve Zimbabwe's road safety crisis. Harare businesswoman Nomusa Nkala pointed out that public transport drivers, who are already subject to retests, continue to be involved in deadly crashes.
"Driver behaviour is influenced by more than just retesting - enforcement, road conditions, and personal attitudes all play a part," she said.
Pious Chidzenga, president of the Zimbabwe Union of Drivers and Conductors, called for a more holistic approach. He questioned the logic of retesting drivers who are already active daily on the roads but stressed the importance of regular medical evaluations to ensure they are fit to drive.
Others, like Ngoni Katsvairo of the Greater Harare Association of Commuter Operators, argued that existing road tests do little to enhance driver safety. He advocated for strengthening the defensive driving course system and making it more frequent. Katsvairo also suggested making the course mandatory for private drivers every five years and enhancing medical screening during licence renewal.
"Drunk driving, reckless behaviour, and corruption during testing must also be addressed through better enforcement and smart technologies," he said.
Some experts have gone further, calling for a one-stop-shop model where all driver evaluations - including defensive courses, medicals, and road tests - are done in a single location to reduce bureaucracy and delays.
Edmore Tirivanhu Gwegwe, chairperson of the Harare Youths Transporters Association, voiced support for retesting PSV drivers but warned that the system must also account for drivers who have had their licences for years but never gained sufficient real-world experience.
"Retests are essential in such cases, but the process must be streamlined," he said. "There should also be designated training institutions like CMED to ensure all drivers are trained to the same high standard."
Cost was another concern raised, with stakeholders urging the Government to ensure affordability in retesting and licence renewal processes to avoid financially burdening citizens.
Minister Mhona stressed that Zimbabwe's system is in line with international standards. He cited examples from countries like the United Kingdom, where specific driver categories are retested based on age and licence type, and from within the Zimbabwean Government itself, where drivers of official vehicles are required to pass retests.
Learnmore Zulu, a Zimbabwean recently returned from Australia, said in many developed nations, licences expire after a certain period, and renewal typically includes simple administrative steps, vision tests, and in some cases, evaluations for elderly or high-risk drivers - but not widespread retesting.
As the public continues to digest the evolving policy, many are calling for national dialogue that moves beyond retesting. Stakeholders argue that a comprehensive road safety strategy is needed - one that combines smarter enforcement, stronger penalties, better infrastructure, continuous education, and an aggressive crackdown on corruption.
For now, the Ministry of Transport insists that the retesting system targets specific categories of professional drivers and that most motorists, like Sekuru Moyo, need not worry about a surprise trip to the testing yard - unless, of course, they're behind the wheel of a PSV.
Source - Sunday Mail
