The government plans to raise the minimum age for kombi and bus drivers from the current 25 years to 30 years to reduce traffic accidents and fatalities, largely attributed to reckless driving.
Speaking during the Question and Answer session in the Senate last Thursday, Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Development Felix Mhona said that raising the minimum age for all public service drivers will ensure that only mature and experienced drivers will drive kombis and buses. Said Mhona (via <a href="https://www.herald.co.zw/new-age-limit-for-kombi-bus-drivers/">The Herald</a>):
<blockquote>
I am sure the legal department in my Ministry is working with the Attorney General in that regard and we are saying for public vehicles, we were sticking to 25 years and we are now advocating to increase.
Within the SADC region, the minimum age is 30 years for public service vehicles and that will then address the overzealousness of some of these drivers that are driving our public service vehicles.
We are losing close to 2,000 per annum in terms of fatalities, which is not sustainable and when it comes to the monetary element, we are losing close to US$406 million per year towards fatalities, injuries, hospitalisations and even causing unnecessary burden to beneficiaries.
</blockquote>
Commenting on the proposal to raise the minimum age limit for public service drivers, Greater Harare Association of Commuter Operators (GHACO) chairman, Ngoni Katsvairo, said:
<blockquote>
Experience and maturity come with age, which is why the constitution stipulates that one must be 40 years or older to be considered for Presidential election candidacy.
</blockquote>
However, Zimbabwe Union of Drivers and Conductors (ZUDCO) president, Fradreck Maguramhinga said the country does not have a lot of drivers that are over the age of 25. He said:
<blockquote>
While we understand the need for more mature drivers, we have very mature drivers between 25 and 30 years old
The majority of drivers who are being reckless are below 25 and we propose maintaining the 25-year age limit for small public service vehicles like commuter omnibuses, as drivers tend to prefer heavy-duty trucks and buses once they reach 30.
</blockquote>
In 2023, the government promulgated Statutory Instrument 118 of 2023 which requires public service vehicles, including buses, are required to be fitted with speed-limiting devices to ensure their speeds do not exceed 100 km/h.
This measure was introduced in response to an increase in bus accidents attributed to speeding.
These speed limiters are installed permanently and can work for a lifetime if drivers do not tamper with them.
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Government Mulls Raising Minimum Age For Kombi, Bus Drivers To 30 Years

Police have said more than 360 bus drivers were arrested this month for driving above stipulated speed limits, reported <a href="https://www.sundaymail.co.zw/over-360-bus-drivers-arrested-for-speeding">The Sunday Mail</a>.
Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said most of the arrests were made during the festive season. He said:
<blockquote>
In a concerted effort to enforce road regulations and enhance public safety, law-enforcement authorities have arrested at least 368 bus drivers during this month alone for speeding.
Most of the arrests were made during the festive season holidays and we continue to urge bus drivers to respect the sanctity of life and their passengers.
</blockquote>
In June 2023, the Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development, Felix Mhona, promulgated Statutory Instrument 118 of 2023 which made it mandatory for passenger public service vehicles (buses/kombis) and other heavy vehicles to install speed limit and monitoring devices on their vehicles.
Public transport operators have until tomorrow, 01 January 2024, to comply with the Government directive to equip their vehicles with speed-limiting and monitoring devices.
Speaking to The Sunday Mail, the Zimbabwe Passenger Transport Organisation (ZPTO) urged public transport operators to comply with the new regulations. He said:
<blockquote>
Bus operators are required to comply with this directive by January 1 by ensuring the installation of the necessary speed limiting and monitoring devices on their vehicles.
The tracking system has helped reduce the number of accidents. But we need to do more; we have operators who have not submitted their fleet and tracking numbers.
The police must help us to enforce that. As bus operators, we have been disciplining our drivers internally.
</blockquote>
The speed tracking system restricts the maximum speed of buses to 100km/h on open roads.
Bus operators and the ZRP have established a speed tracking centre at Harare Central Police Station to closely monitor the adherence of drivers to the prescribed speed limits.
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368 Bus Drivers Arrested For Speeding - ZRP

Police have arrested more than 1 800 people countrywide as authorities seek to ensure that bus operators have route permits and follow timetables.
The operation comes after police recently expressed concern over the conduct of some public service vehicle drivers who are not complying with the timetables and route permits.
This has resulted in avoidable accidents caused by bus drivers engaging in dangerous and reckless road races for passengers.
National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi on Friday said the number of people who have been arrested under the operation stood at 1 805. He said:
<blockquote>
On 22/02/23, police arrested 711 people across the country on operation on the enforcement of route permits and time-tables for public service vehicles (PSVs). This brings the cumulative figure of arrests to 1 805.
</blockquote>
Last week, Asst Comm Nyathi said the enforcement of route compliance and timetables would be done in terms of the Road Motor Transportation Act. He said:
<blockquote>
The Zimbabwe Republic Police has noted with concern the conduct of some public service vehicle drivers who are not complying with timetables on route permits, resulting in the drivers being dragged into dangerous and reckless road races for passengers.
This conduct has resulted in road traffic accidents in some instances.
In a bid to ensure compliance with road traffic rules and regulations by public service vehicles, the Zimbabwe Republic Police will with immediate effect heighten enforcement on compliance with route permits and timetables.
Owners of public service vehicles are, therefore, advised to adhere to the dictates of their route permits and timetables forthwith.
We appeal to public service vehicle owners to cooperate with police officers to ensure sanity prevails on the roads.
</blockquote>
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