BULAWAYO
–
Road
traffic
accidents
and
fatalities
rose
sharply
during
the
2025
festive
season,
with
police
recording
nearly
double
the
number
of
crashes
and
a
significant
increase
in
deaths
compared
to
the
same
period
last
year.
According
to
the
Zimbabwe
Republic
Police
(ZRP),
100
people
were
killed
in
road
traffic
accidents
between
December
15
and
26,
2025,
up
from
77
deaths
recorded
over
the
same
period
in
2024.
In
a
statement
released
on
December
29,
the
ZRP
said
a
total
of
2,412
road
traffic
accidents
were
recorded
during
the
12-day
period,
compared
to
1,211
accidents
during
the
same
dates
last
year.
“In
2025,
87
fatal
road
traffic
accidents
were
recorded,
compared
to
65
in
2024,
while
the
number
of
people
killed
stood
at
100,
compared
to
77
during
the
same
period
the
previous
year.
A
total
of
471
people
were
injured,
compared
to
401
in
2024.”
The
figures
show
that
fatal
accidents
increased
by
22
cases
year-on-year,
while
injuries
rose
by
70
compared
to
the
2024
festive
season.
Passengers
accounted
for
the
highest
number
of
deaths
at
44,
followed
by
pedestrians
who
recorded
37
fatalities.
Drivers
accounted
for
10
deaths,
while
four
riders,
three
cyclists,
and
two
people
traveling
in
scotch
carts
were
also
killed.
The
spike
comes
despite
annual
festive
season
road
safety
campaigns
and
heightened
police
presence
on
major
highways.
In
the
2024
festive
period,
police
reported
fewer
crashes
and
deaths,
raising
concerns
that
compliance
with
traffic
laws
has
worsened
this
year.
In
previous
updates,
the
ZRP
has
blamed
speeding,
reckless
overtaking,
drunk
driving,
overloading
and
the
use
of
unroadworthy
vehicles
for
most
serious
crashes
during
peak
travel
periods,
when
traffic
volumes
increase
as
people
travel
to
rural
areas
for
the
holidays.
Police
urged
motorists
and
pedestrians
to
exercise
greater
caution
as
end-of-year
travel
continues,
warning
that
enforcement
operations
will
remain
in
place
in
an
effort
to
stem
further
loss
of
life
on
the
country’s
roads.