The government has raised the alarm over daily cash targets imposed on kombi drivers, linking the practice to a surge in road accidents across the country.
Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Felix Mhona, represented by Deputy Minister Joshua Sacco, addressed the issue during the 2024 Annual Road Safety Conference (ARSACO) in Harare.
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Government Blames Kombi Cash Targets for Rising Road Accidents in Zimbabwe
Minister Mhona criticised the practice of setting daily cash targets, which he said forces drivers to speed and ignore traffic laws to meet financial goals. He warned that this endangers lives and contributes to the country’s growing road accident rate.
Minister Mhona urged a collaborative approach to road safety and condemned outdated measures:
“We cannot continue using the same tactics that have yielded limited success in the past, hoping for different results,” he said. “I challenge all stakeholders here to seize this opportunity to discuss ways to combat the epidemic of road carnage that is devastating to our youth, families, and future.”
Commuter Omnibus Owners Speak
Edmore Tirivanhu Gwengwe, chairman of the Harare Youth Transporters Association (HAYTA), echoed the minister’s sentiment. He called for an end to the target system, which he said prioritises profits over passenger safety:
“Drivers struggle to cover basic costs until they complete a significant number of trips, with profits only realised later in the day. As a commuter omnibus owner, I strongly discourage setting daily targets of US$120 or $150, as this prioritises targets over the safety of passengers.”
For instance, a kombi on the Harare-Chitungwiza route, charging US$1.50 per passenger, needs six trips to meet its target, often compelling drivers to speed during peak hours.
Tawanda Sisimayi, founder of Safer Roads Trust, stressed the importance of unity among stakeholders to meet the 2030 goal of halving road traffic deaths and injuries.
The conference highlighted the urgent need for regulatory reforms to tackle road accidents and improve commuter safety.
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