Opposition leader Herbert Chamuka has urged the government to expedite the establishment of a fully functional Road Accident Fund (RAF), saying families of road accident victims should not be left to shoulder the financial burden alone.
Cabinet previously approved a new RAF with a no-fault system that guarantees every road accident victim immediate medical attention, rehabilitation or funeral support.
It is financed through Treasury allocations and motor insurance premiums, plugging gaps in the existing scheme, which has resulted in delays in treatment and compensation of victims.
Despite cabinet approval and public consultations, implementation of the new system has been slow, raising concern among stakeholders.
Speaking at the funeral of the late Takudzwa Mushambi, who died in a road traffic accident, Chamuka said it was unacceptable for grieving families to be forced into public appeals to raise burial funds.
“When a life is lost on our roads, the pain is already too much. It becomes worse when families are forced to beg for money just to bury their loved ones.
“The state must take responsibility. If we can collect taxes and licence fees, we can also have the urgency to protect families when tragedy strikes,” the People’s Unity Party (PUP) leader said.
Zimbabwe continues to record high numbers of road traffic accidents each year. Government statistics indicate that the country records an average of 40,000 road accidents annually, with negligence and reckless driving cited as the major causes.
In most cases, families of victims struggle to raise burial funds while transport operators and insurance processes take a long time to respond.
Chamuka said any road accident fund must be fast, transparent and responsive.
“This fund must not be about paperwork and excuses. It must respond immediately so that families can mourn in peace,” added the People’s Unity Party (PUP) leader.
He said protecting citizens should be a priority for any serious government.
“A country that fails to protect its people on the roads has failed its duty,” Chamuka said.
Meanwhile, the government has called for stiffer penalties for reckless driving and tougher action against illegal transport operators. Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development Felix Mhona recently said, “We cannot continue to lose lives due to negligence and disregard for traffic laws.”
