ON Wednesday, Zimbabweans woke up to news of a commuter omnibus that was involved in an accident at the Dzivaresekwa turn-off along the Harare-Bulawayo Highway.
Reports indicated that seven people — six on the kombi and one a bystander — perished on the spot, while eight others were seriously injured.
It is said behind the wheel was Guylord Hunda (27), an unlicensed driver who was looking for passengers at the intersection, with the driver waiting for him in Warren Park.
We believe it is high time authorities took drastic action so that the number of accidents at that intersection, which has since become a black spot, are reduced.
There is a need to erect speed humps on both sides of the dual carriageway if the place is to be a safe zone again.
The Harare City Council also needs to ensure that traffic lights are working at the intersection so that traffic flow is smooth all the time.
When speed humps are erected, the local authority should make sure there is enough lighting to reduce the chances of smash-and-grab incidents when vehicles slow down at the speed humps.
With power outages back, the council can turn to solar lights, whose battery packs can be installed at the KFC outlet along the highway for security reasons.
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We call on traffic authorities to bring back the policy that compels commuter omnibus drivers and their conductors to display their badges for quick identification.
We believe even commuters themselves will be responsible enough to tell anyone who is not licensed to move away from the steering wheel. Commuter omnibus operators must take steps to protect the lives of commuters.
They should make sure drivers have the requisite documentation for them to transport commuters.
The commuter omnibus operators must also instruct their drivers not to allow anyone to drive the vehicles under their care. Zimbabwe has recorded many fatal accidents since the start of the year and we cannot afford anymore.
We still have nine months to go and given the rate at which fatal accidents are occurring, we will have reached alarming levels by year end.
Police have in the past complained of bus crews who tamper with speed-limiting devices on their vehicles.
Passengers have complained about drivers who refuse to reduce speed when requested to do so, a case in point being the bus accident that occurred in Beitbridge, where the driver would reportedly lower speed to 20km per hour when commuters complained.
Twenty-five people, who were on that bus, died near the Lutumba tollgate when the driver reverted to speeding.
We should never tolerate errant drivers on our roads.
Drivers must respect the sanctity of life and authorities must take action against deviant conduct on the part of drivers.
Commuter omnibus drivers have always been a menace on Zimbabwe’s roads, but are tolerated because of the country’s shambolic public transport system.
Efforts to regulate the public transport system in the country have been haphazard, to say the least.
Latest efforts to manage the system saw the introduction of regulations targeting public transport drivers, particularly those operating commuter omnibuses, or kombis as they are commonly known.
The latest directive, published in Statutory Instrument 10 of 2025 at the end of January, stipulates that public transport drivers must be at least 30 years old and have a minimum of five years experience.
The update made by the Transport and Infrastructural Development ministry in section 81 of the Road Traffic Act [Chapter 13:11], states: “A class of motor vehicle which is a passenger public service vehicle of an omnibus or commuter omnibus type shall only be operated by drivers who have a minimum of five years’ driving experience and are at least 30 years of age.”
We urge authorities to ensure these regulations are strictly enforced.
