Zimbabwe drivers could face new qualifications under proposed law
· The South African
Zimbabwean professional drivers could be required to meet new educational, competency and ethical standards if Parliament adopts a proposal to formally regulate driving as a profession.
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The proposal, brought before Parliament by the Drivers Association of Zimbabwe, seeks to transform driving from an occupation into a legally recognised profession with its own statutory regulatory body.
Drivers could need professional registration
The proposed body would be responsible for determining entry requirements, setting professional and competency standards, registering drivers and taking disciplinary action against those who breach prescribed rules.
Under the proposal, professional drivers working in sectors such as public transport, haulage and logistics would have to register with the proposed professional association.
Employers could also be required to ensure that they only hire drivers who meet prescribed professional and ethical standards.
The proposal could therefore introduce a significant distinction between simply holding a driving licence and being professionally qualified to earn a living behind the wheel.
Training could become more important
The association says the changes could help address some of Zimbabwe’s long-standing road safety problems by placing greater emphasis on professional training and accountability.
Its president, Nicholas Mabwe, a former Zimbabwe Republic Police officer, said driving was not currently regulated in the same way as professions such as medicine and law.
He argued that professional drivers should undergo specialised training and comply with a code of conduct throughout their careers.
Mabwe said his 20 years in the police, including six years in the Traffic Branch, exposed him to challenges in Zimbabwe’s transport sector and prompted him to search for longer-term solutions to road crashes and traffic offences.
Road safety at the centre of proposal
Mabwe linked weaknesses in the transport sector to problems including reckless driving, drink-driving, dangerous road behaviour and other forms of criminal activity.
The association believes that creating a professional regulatory framework could strengthen accountability among drivers and encourage higher standards across the transport industry.
The proposal comes as authorities continue to grapple with road safety challenges, with speeding, reckless driving, dangerous overtaking and human error remaining concerns on Zimbabwe’s roads.
Zimbabwe has experienced professional drivers
The association says it has 15 award-winning drivers among its members, including drivers who have won the Driver of the Year Competition organised by the Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe.
Some members have also represented Zimbabwe at international driving competitions in South Africa, Poland and Finland.
The association is using these examples to demonstrate that professional driving already exists in practice, but lacks a statutory framework comparable to other recognised professions.
Parliament to consider proposal
The petition was delivered to Parliament Clerk Kennedy Chokuda last week and has since been referred to the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Transport and Infrastructural Development.
The committee is expected to engage relevant stakeholders before making recommendations to Parliament.
If the proposal advances, one of the key questions will be how the new professional requirements would affect thousands of people already working as commercial drivers.
Parliament would also have to determine the qualifications, registration requirements and enforcement mechanisms needed to make the proposed system work.
For now, the proposal remains at the parliamentary consideration stage, but its adoption could fundamentally change how Zimbabwe trains, employs and regulates professional drivers.