Ministry Rolls Out Second Round of Consultations on Road Accident Fund Bill

The Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development has commenced the second round of nationwide public consultations on the proposed Road Accident Fund (RAF) Bill, a transformative piece of legislation aimed at overhauling Zimbabwe’s post-crash response system and strengthening social protection for road traffic accident victims.

The consultations officially began in Marondera today and are being led by the Ministry under the guidance of Permanent Secretary, Engineer Joyline P. Makumbe. The process is designed to gather direct input from citizens and key stakeholders before the Bill is finalised and presented to Parliament.

Speaking through a keynote address read on her behalf, Eng Makumbe underscored the urgent need for reform, citing alarming national road safety statistics. She revealed that Zimbabwe records a road traffic accident every 15 minutes, resulting in more than 1,800 deaths and over 10,000 injuries each year.

“The Road Accident Fund mechanism will spread the social safety net to take care of every citizen involved in road traffic accidents, including vulnerable road users,” said Eng Makumbe. “Under this proposed system, claimants will no longer be required to prove who was at fault in order to receive assistance for medical treatment, funeral expenses and other related costs.”

The proposed RAF Bill represents a major policy shift from the current fault-based third-party insurance model to a no-fault compensation system. This change is expected to ensure quicker access to support for accident victims and their families, while reducing the lengthy legal processes that often delay compensation under the existing framework.

According to the Ministry, the Fund will be financed through a reallocation of the current third-party insurance premium. Under the proposal, 35 percent of the premium will be channelled directly to the Road Accident Fund, 34.3 percent will remain with insurance companies to cater for vehicle damage, while the balance will cover broker fees, regulatory costs and road safety awareness programmes.

“The new system promises to significantly cut down on complex legal delays that have continued to frustrate insurance settlements and deny victims timely assistance,” Eng Makumbe added.

The Marondera consultative meeting attracted a broad cross-section of stakeholders, including representatives from various government ministries, the Zimbabwe Republic Police, insurance companies, transport operators, health service providers, traditional leaders and civic organisations. Participants were given an opportunity to share views, raise concerns and make recommendations on the structure and implementation of the proposed Fund.

The Ministry emphasised that the Road Accident Fund Bill is a critical step towards achieving Zimbabwe’s Vision 2030 of an upper middle-income economy, particularly through improved social protection and safer transport systems.

The initiative also aligns with global road safety commitments under the United Nations Decade of Action for Road Safety, which seeks to reduce road traffic deaths and injuries by 50 percent by 2030.

Further consultations are expected to be conducted across other provinces as the Ministry moves to ensure that the final Bill reflects the collective aspirations and practical realities of all road users in Zimbabwe.