Zimbabweans have urged the Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Development, Felix Mhona, to address allegations of corruption within the Vehicle Inspection Department (VID) as part of efforts to curb road accidents and fatalities.
Over 2 000 road traffic accident-related deaths occur annually in the country, with negligent driving being the leading cause.
In response, the Ministry of Transport is considering raising the minimum age for all public service drivers to 30, aligning with the SADC region.
Participants on CITE’s, “This Morning on Asakhe” program said the government needs to tackle corruption within the VID and among police officers.
“We should start by shunning corruption,” said one participant. “If a VID officer or police officer asks for a bribe to issue a driver’s license, report it. By participating in this bribery, we fuel the fire of corruption within our communities. We’ve seen arrests of VID officers and police officers for these very acts.”
He continued, “To create a better society, corruption must stop. We shouldn’t allow any officer to ask for bribes for licenses or provisional licenses. Additionally, let’s stop applauding speeding drivers.”
The participant argued for raising the minimum age to 40, suggesting younger drivers become easily excited on the road.
“Regarding age, yes, we understand the high unemployment rate in our country, especially among youths. But if youths are between 15 and 35, how can someone under 35 be expected to drive a bus carrying over 60 people? The Ministry should reconsider, particularly for buses. Kombis might be treated differently, but for buses, that age group is concerning. Recently, one of the buses involved in an accident along the Harare-Nyamapanda highway had a driver between 27-29 years old. This age group tends to be more prone to excitement on the roads.”
“For buses, the Ministry of Transport should consider raising the minimum age to 40,” he concluded.
Another participant, Thulani, echoed these sentiments, stating that corruption creates fertile ground for accidents.
“The government should also address the fitness of vehicles on our roads,” he said. “The issue of police accepting bribes to allow unfit vehicles to pass inspection is a major concern. Corruption is fueling accidents.”
However, another participant offered a different perspective.
“In Zimbabwe, it’s not about age, but enforcement,” he argued. “There’s a lack of traffic rule enforcement and general lawlessness. How can driving a kombi require a minimum age of 30 when the Air Force trains pilots between 18-22?”
He added that drivers need to undergo continuous training.
“Driving isn’t about age; it’s about training,” he said. “When these drivers are employed, they need proper training programs lasting six to eight weeks.”
