By Archford Chirimudombo
Harare, (New Ziana) – Zimbabwe recorded 48 150 road traffic crashes in the first nine months of 2026, resulting in 1 979 deaths and 8 061 injuries, as authorities raise concern over human error, which remains the leading cause of accidents on the country’s roads.
Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe (TSCZ) managing director, Munesu Munodawafa disclosed the figures during a road safety workshop for journalists, revealing that an estimated 94 percent of road traffic crashes were attributable to human error.
He warned that the consequences of road accidents went far beyond the immediate loss of life, often leaving survivors and dependants grappling with prolonged social and economic hardships.
Munodawafa said the death of a family breadwinner could jeopardise children’s education, particularly when relatives who initially step in to provide financial assistance struggle to sustain that support over time.
“Some children receive help from extended family members to pay school fees following the death of a parent, but such assistance often proves difficult to sustain over time. Maybe at the end of the term, an uncle pays the school fees. The second term, the father or the mother pays the school fees, and eventually the fees are paid. But perhaps the third, fourth or the next year, the child probably goes out of school,” he said.
He noted that media reports often overlook such long-term effects, focusing on the number of fatalities and injuries after crashes rather than the lasting impact on affected households and communities.
The TSCZ managing director challenged journalists to broaden their coverage by highlighting the financial struggles of bereaved families and the disruption to children’s schooling following road accidents.
Police statistics presented at the workshop showed that the country recorded 48 150 road traffic crashes between January and September 2026, claiming 1 979 lives and leaving 8 061 people injured.
The figures underscore the magnitude of Zimbabwe’s road safety challenges and the urgent need for authorities and other stakeholders to intensify efforts to address the preventable causes of road accidents.
Journalists were also encouraged to investigate factors that contribute to crashes, including hazardous road sections, poor or inadequate signage, overloading and other risks that compromise the safety of road users.
Munodawafa further urged the media to assess the effectiveness of road safety interventions and scrutinise the performance of institutions responsible for implementing them.
“Let us identify the problem, investigate the solutions, evaluate the effectiveness, promote accountability and share lessons. Accurate, evidence-based and solutions-oriented reporting helps to expose weaknesses in road safety systems, encourage responsible behaviour among motorists and support measures to protect all road users,” he said.
He emphasised that journalists were key partners in promoting road safety awareness and ensuring that accidents were reported as preventable tragedies rather than isolated incidents.
His remarks come amid mounting concern over the wider human and economic consequences of road traffic crashes, which can deprive families of their sources of income, disrupt children’s education and leave survivors facing prolonged physical, emotional and financial challenges.
New Ziana
