The ManicaPost
Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
ABOUT 60 percent of the vehicles on the country’s roads are not properly licensed and insured, a situation that leaves many road traffic accidents victims without any form of compensation.
The victims are also left with a huge burden of seeking medical treatment, catering for funeral expenses or replacing or repairing damaged assets.
This was revealed by the Insurance Council of Zimbabwe (ICZ) last week on Friday during the launch of festive season road safety awareness campaign at a local hotel in Mutare.
ICZ marketing and public relations manager, Ms Ringisai Batiya, said: “As a means of security that provides compensation to victims of road accidents, the Insurance Council of Zimbabwe is calling upon all motorists to comply with statutory insurance requirements. It is estimated that the level of compliance with insurance requirements is around 40 percent.
“This means that many victims are left without any form of compensation, leading to financial hardship when seeking medical treatment, catering for funeral expenses or when replacing or repairing damaged assets. Sadly, most of the accidents that we record involve vehicles that are not properly licenced or insured.”
Ms Batiya gave examples of the April St Charles Lwanga bus accident in Chimanimani which had no insurance cover and inadequate insurance for the Tynwald School bus.
“2022 was a very sad year, with Manicaland registering two notable road accidents, namely the Charles Lwanga accident in April and the Tynwald accident in October.
“As part of our corporate social responsibility, the Insurance Council of Zimbabwe assisted in burying the victims as there was no insurance cover for the Charles Lwanga bus and inadequate insurance for the Tynwald School bus,” she said.
She bemoaned the increase of road traffic accidents.
“It is heart-breaking to note that before we have reached the Christmas and New Year periods when we experience the heaviest traffic on our roads we are already getting news almost on a daily basis of fatal road traffic accidents.
“While we, as the insurance industry are in the business of paying claims, we are in support of initiatives that promote road safety and preservation of life. Payments of death claims are the hardest transaction to process.
‘‘Giving beneficiaries insurance benefits will not make up for the loss of life or replace the loved one. The insurance sector is therefore adding its voice in encouraging responsible driving on our roads every time,” she said.
The ICZ marketing and PR manager bemoaned the economic loses that come with road traffic accidents.
“Apart from precious lives we continue to lose to accidents, there are also economic losses that are suffered. Breadwinners are dying or becoming disabled, taking away their ability to be economically active.
“Assets mainly road infrastructure and vehicles are being damaged and these require funding to be repaired or replaced. We are appealing to all drivers to be cautious, responsible while driving as well as being compliant with all motor insurance and licensing requirements,” she said.
