Passengers travelling in overloaded buses will be forced to disembark, while defective or non-compliant vehicles will be impounded as authorities intensify efforts to curb road carnage during the 2025 festive season.
The Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe (TSCZ) director, Munesu Munodawafa, said the council is working closely with the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development, the Vehicle Inspectorate Department, the Central Vehicle Registry, and the Zimbabwe Republic Police to strictly enforce traffic regulations.
Munodawafa said patrol capacity has been increased this year, with 61 teams deployed nationwide compared to 55 last year. Of these, 34 teams will operate from fixed points, while 27 will be mobile, moving across the country to monitor compliance and promote road safety.
“Where there is overloading, people will be offloaded. No compromise. Inconvenient as it may be, these measures are necessary to save lives,” he said.
He added that authorities will thoroughly inspect vehicle documentation, particularly for public transport operators. Checks will include insurance status, roadworthiness certification, and compliance with statutory requirements such as Zimbabwe National Road Administration (ZINARA) and Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) licensing.
“Any vehicle found without valid roadworthiness or outstanding documentation will be impounded until the owner produces all the required paperwork. In some cases, this may mean vehicles are only released next year. These are tough but necessary measures,” Munodawafa said.
The intensified enforcement follows a tragic accident on 17 December, when a head-on collision between a Honda Fit and a haulage truck claimed the lives of 10 people. All the victims were travelling in the Honda Fit, a vehicle designed to carry only four passengers and a driver, raising serious concerns about overloading.
Authorities have urged motorists and public transport operators to comply with traffic regulations to ensure safer travel during the festive season.
