Zimbabwe Cracks Down on Deadly Roads: New Tech & Stricter Laws After Seke Tragedy

After the Seke Road disaster killed 17 people and with road deaths up 4.9% this year, Zimbabwe is rolling out high-tech surveillance, stricter driver training, and police crackdowns to halt the carnage.

The Grim Stats (2025 So Far)

– 28,159 accidents (up from 25,968 in 2024).

– 1,088 deaths—11% more fatal crashes than last year.

– 94% caused by human error: Speeding, reckless overtaking, illegal turns.

– Just 0.1% blamed on bad roads.

Government’s 6-Point Safety Plan

1. AI Traffic Cameras: Number plate + facial recognition to catch speeders.

2. Driving School Reforms: Standardized training to weed out “fake” drivers.

3. Stricter Vehicle Checks: Crackdown on unroadworthy cars & corruption in inspections.

4. Police Upgrades: More patrols, faster response to accidents.

5. New Laws: Harsher penalties for reckless driving.

6. Emergency Boost: Civil Protection Unit equipped for mass crashes.

Information Minister Jenfan Muswere said:

“We’re using tech, training, and tough laws to save lives—no more excuses.”

The Real Problem?  

While the govt blames **“human error”, critics ask:

– Are corrupt licenses & lax enforcement enabling bad drivers?

– Will poor road markings & potholes keep causing crashes?

What’s Next? 

– Track progress: ZRP to publish monthly accident reports.

– Public campaign: “Arrive Alive” ads targeting speeding drivers.