By Michael Gwarisa
Zimbabwe recorded a 99 percent increase in road traffic accidents during the 2025 festive season, with police attributing the sharp rise to speeding, dangerous overtaking, overloading, tyre bursts and poor vehicle maintenance.
According to statistics released by the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP), a total of 2,412 road traffic accidents were recorded between 15 and 26 December 2025, nearly double the 1,211 accidents reported during the same period in 2024.
The increase of 1,201 accidents represents a 99.2 percent rise year-on-year.
Fatal accidents also rose significantly during the period. Police recorded 87 fatal crashes, up from 65 in 2024, reflecting a 33.8 percent increase. The number of people killed increased from 77 to 100, a 29.9 percent rise, while injuries climbed by 17.5 percent, from 401 to 471.
Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi, the national police spokesperson and Chief Staff Officer for Press and Public Relations, said the figures highlight recurring and preventable road safety failures, particularly during peak holiday travel.
“An analysis of road traffic accidents recorded on major highways across the country points to recurring and preventable causal factors largely attributable to driver behaviour and vehicle-related issues,” Nyathi said in a statement.
Police data shows that passengers and pedestrians were the most affected road users. Of the 100 fatalities recorded, 44 were passengers and 37 were pedestrians, while 10 drivers, four riders, three cyclists and two people using scotch carts also lost their lives.
Nyathi described the number of pedestrians killed during the period as “disturbing,” urging greater caution among people walking along and crossing roads.
“It is sad to note that some pedestrians were struck by vehicles while walking on the road with earphones plugged in and listening to music,” he said.
Police urged pedestrians to avoid jaywalking and to use designated crossing points, including pedestrian crossings and traffic-controlled intersections.
One of the most serious crashes during the period occurred on 17 December 2025 along the Harare–Nyamapanda Road, at the 185-kilometre peg near Suswe. A Honda Fit travelling from Mutoko to Kotwa, carrying ten occupants, was involved in a head-on collision with a haulage truck travelling towards Harare. All ten occupants of the Honda Fit were killed.
According to the ZRP, most fatal crashes involved head-on collisions, often caused by vehicles encroaching into oncoming lanes or engaging in dangerous overtaking manoeuvres, demonstrating poor judgement and disregard for traffic regulations.
Excessive speeding was identified as the major contributing factor, frequently resulting in loss of vehicle control. Several crashes involved vehicles veering off the road, overturning or colliding with trees and fixed objects, particularly during early morning and night-time hours, when fatigue and inattention are common.
Police also identified overloading as a significant risk factor. Nyathi said overloading compromises vehicle stability, places excessive strain on tyres and reduces a driver’s ability to control a vehicle, especially at high speeds.
In addition, tyre bursts were cited as a major contributor to a number of fatal accidents, particularly those involving public service vehicles. Police attributed this to poor vehicle maintenance, the use of worn-out or substandard tyres, overloading and failure to conduct routine inspections before journeys.
However, police noted that no major road traffic accident involving public service vehicles was recorded during the period under review.
As the New Year holiday approaches, the Zimbabwe Republic Police urged motorists to strictly adhere to road rules and regulations.
