‘This Was Preventable’: Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission Blames Government After 100 Killed in 12 Days of Christmas Accidents

The Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission has issued a damning verdict on the festive season road carnage, declaring the death of one hundred people in twelve days a “preventable” tragedy caused by government failure. In a hard-hitting statement dated 30 December 2025, the constitutional body blamed systemic neglect in transport regulation and infrastructure for the shocking spike in accidents recorded by police between 15 and 26 December.

The commission revealed that total road accidents had doubled from 1,211 in 2024 to 2,412 in the same period in 2025, labelling the situation a “national emergency.”

“Behind these numbers lie shattered families, lifelong disabilities, and preventable loss of human life,” the ZHRC stated.

The human toll was spelt out in stark detail: one hundred lives lost and four hundred and seventy-one people injured. The data showed that forty-four passengers and thirty-seven pedestrians made up the overwhelming majority of the dead.

A System Labelled “Mass Death Traps”

The ZHRC pointed a direct finger at what it called a disorganised and under-regulated transportation sector. It stated the collapse of reliable formal public transport has flooded roads with dangerous vehicles.

“The lack of reliable, affordable formal public transport has led to the proliferation of poorly maintained vehicles, including unroadworthy buses, kombis, and private cars operating as informal taxis,” the commission reported. “Crowding turns these vehicles into mass death traps.”

The commission linked the crisis directly to drivers in the informal sector operating under severe economic pressure, leading to overloading, speeding, and driving while fatigued.

A Crisis Of Constitutional Rights

The statement framed the disaster as more than a traffic issue, asserting it constitutes a violation of fundamental human rights. It cited Section 48 of the Constitution, which obligates the state to protect life.

“The constant threat of road trauma, and the reality of injury and death, violates the security of every person who must use Zimbabwe’s roads,” the ZHRC argued.

A specific failure highlighted was the lack of emergency medical care for victims. The commission noted that many die due to no access to ambulances or affordable critical treatment, contradicting constitutional guarantees.

The ZHRC has called for an immediate public inquiry into the carnage and urgent investment in a formal, safe public transport system. It also demanded the government prioritise pedestrian walkways, bicycle lanes, and road repairs to protect vulnerable users.