Bulawayo, the City of Kings, is having a bit of a rough ride when it comes to driving tests. According to the latest figures, only 35.4% of aspiring drivers passed their Certificate of Competency exams in the second quarter of 2025. Yikes! That’s less than four out of ten would be drivers making it past the dreaded Traffic Safety Council test.

The national average is 52.9%, but Bulawayo’s results were, well, a bit of a stall. Out of 4,292 candidates, only 1,521 passed, leaving the rest clutching their failed test slips and dreams of freedom behind the wheel.

Mashonaland East took the top spot with an impressive 67.6% pass rate, followed closely by Harare with 66.3%. Manicaland squeezed into third with a respectable 50.1%. Meanwhile, Bulawayo and Midlands brought up the rear with 35.4% and 34.6% pass rates, respectively.

Driving instructors say nerves, poor preparation, and fear of the inspector’s clipboard are the main culprits. One instructor joked that some learners drive better on TikTok than on the test route! “I’ve seen people who can change gears like pros, but once they see the officer with a clipboard, they forget everything, even where the indicator is.”

Experts say the low pass rate reflects the need for better training and more rigorous learner education. With the country’s growing traffic chaos, it’s time for Bulawayo motorists to shift gears and get serious about driving. Until then, it seems the City of Kings will have to take a few more lessons before it can proudly say, “I passed!”

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