Zimbabweans Don’t Know How To Drive At Night: Police Demand Overhaul Of Driving Tests

Police Blast Zimbabwean Drivers: “They Don’t Know How To Drive At Night”

The Zimbabwe Republic Police have delivered a stunning public verdict on the nation’s motorists, bluntly stating that Zimbabweans do not know how to drive at night. This damning assessment has sparked an immediate demand for a total rewrite of the country’s driving curriculum to include compulsory night-time lessons.

The explosive comments were made by ZRP spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi during a road safety workshop in Harare on 17 December 2025.

He linked the alleged widespread incompetence after dark directly to a system in which driving schools operate only during daylight hours.

“There are challenges in our country, and sometimes you encounter a person who doesn’t know how to dim or flash their lights, yet they are supposed to be a driver. Maybe we need to challenge our driving curriculum; people must now have driving lessons at night. We were even discussing this at work, noting that driving schools in Zimbabwe only operate during the day and do not teach people how to drive at night, hence the problems.”

Commissioner Nyathi expanded his criticism to include driving in poor weather, suggesting basic skills evaporate.

“And when it starts raining, you would think there are no more drivers in Zimbabwe at all.”

Public Backlash And Alternative Fixes

The police’s sweeping criticism triggered a fierce and divided public response on social media. Many citizens rejected the premise that training was the core issue, pointing instead to bad behaviour and failed infrastructure.

User Nqobizitha Mlambo (@cdemlambo) dismissed the focus on driver education.

“Rubbish. Regime & its mayoral appendage mafume must fix street lights in Harare for a start”

Athan Sibbs (@asiba12) echoed the sentiment, attributing night-time dangers to attitude, not ignorance.

“This does not need training, it’s just stubbornness among drivers especially truck drivers and the mushrooming GD6 without plates drivers.”

Calls For Simulators And Stricter Testing

Amid the backlash, other voices agreed with the need for higher standards but proposed more modern solutions than traditional night lessons. A strong theme emerged advocating for technology and advanced testing.

User Username_copied (@Bonganindlovu9) made a detailed case for a simulator-based overhaul.

“Driving simulators can solve this mess. They should introduce them at all vid depots and they should be part of driving tests to test whether if a person can drive during the night or when it’s raining”

The concept of mandatory defensive driving courses for all licence candidates also gained traction online. SHANG-WEI CONTRACTORS (@Contractors263) argued for broadening the requirement.

“Just make defensive course mandatory for everyone aspiring to drive,not exclusively for public transport drivers only.”

The ZRP’s controversial intervention has forcefully placed the issue of driver competency on the national agenda. The ball now lies with the Transport and Safety Council of Zimbabwe (TSCZ) and the Vehicle Inspection Department (VID) to decide if the current curriculum will face the night-time overhaul the police are demanding.