Proposal would create statutory regulator and new professional standards for Zimbabwe drivers

Zimbabwean drivers could be required to meet new educational, competency and ethical standards if Parliament accepts a petition to regulate driving as a profession. The proposal to create a statutory regulatory body was brought to Parliament by the Drivers Association of Zimbabwe and has been referred to the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Transport and Infrastructural Development.

What the proposal would change

Under the plan, driving would move beyond holding a licence to being a legally recognised profession overseen by a dedicated body. The proposed regulator would set entry requirements, professional and competency standards, register drivers and impose disciplinary action for breaches of prescribed rules.

Who would be affected

The association says professional drivers in sectors such as public transport, haulage and logistics would be required to register with the new professional association. Employers could be required to hire only those who meet prescribed professional and ethical standards.

Road safety and training central to the pitch

The Drivers Association of Zimbabwe argues the change would emphasise professional training and accountability as a way to address road safety problems. The association linked weaknesses in the transport sector to issues including reckless driving, drink-driving, dangerous road behaviour and other forms of criminal activity.

Nicholas Mabwe, the association president and a former Zimbabwe Republic Police officer, said driving is not currently regulated like professions such as medicine and law and argued that professional drivers should undergo specialised training and comply with a code of conduct.

Evidence offered by the association

The association points to members who have won awards and competitions to show that professional driving exists in practice. It says it has 15 award-winning drivers among its members, including past winners of the Driver of the Year Competition organised by the Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe. Some members have represented Zimbabwe at international driving competitions in South Africa, Poland and Finland.

Parliamentary process and outstanding questions

The petition was delivered to Parliament Clerk Kennedy Chokuda last week and 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, Parliament would need to determine the qualifications, registration requirements and enforcement mechanisms for the proposed system, and consider how any new requirements would affect people already working as commercial drivers.

Current status

For now, the proposal remains at the parliamentary consideration stage. Its adoption would change how driving is trained, employed and regulated in Zimbabwe if Parliament approves the recommended framework.