By Dickson Bandera
Harare recorded an alarming 34,057 road traffic accidents in 2024, making up over 61% of all accidents reported nationwide and claiming 450 lives, according to the newly released Extreme Events and Disasters Report 2024 by the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZIMSTAT).
The capital city, which also saw 4,124 people injured in the same period, has emerged as the deadliest province for motorists and pedestrians alike, with statistics showing a disturbing rise in both fatal and minor crashes.
The report paints a grim picture of urban mobility under stress. Despite accounting for a fraction of the country’s land area, Harare continues to shoulder the heaviest burden of Zimbabwe’s road safety crisis.
Authorities attribute this to a dangerous cocktail of reckless driving, congestion, poor road maintenance, and inadequate enforcement of traffic laws.
Across Zimbabwe, 55,645 road traffic accidents were recorded in 2024, leading to 2,124 deaths and over 10,000 injuries. Harare alone contributed to nearly 20% of all fatalities, and more than a third of injuries nationwide.
The report also notes that major highways leading into and out of the capital remain high-risk zones. The Harare–Bulawayo Highway recorded 1,595 accidents and the highest number of highway-related deaths at 152 fatalities. The Harare–Mutare and Harare–Beitbridge highways were similarly perilous, raising concern about the safety of Zimbabwe’s economic corridors.
Transport experts and road safety advocates have called for urgent action to reverse the trend, including the rehabilitation of city roads, installation of functional traffic lights, expansion of public transport lanes, and strict enforcement against unlicensed drivers and pirate taxis.
ZIMSTAT’s report is a clear signal that Zimbabwe’s road crisis, particularly in Harare, can no longer be ignored. As the capital expands and traffic density increases, so too must the city’s capacity to protect its road users.
