Zimbabwe recorded 48,150 road crashes between January and September this year. Those crashes killed 1,979 people and injured 8,061 more.

The figures were presented at a road safety workshop for journalists run by the Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe (TSCZ), Nehanda Radio and 263Chat reported. 263Chat said they were police figures shared at the workshop. Nehanda Radio described them as figures released by the TSCZ.

That works out at roughly seven deaths a day across the nine months, and close to 180 crashes every day.

Most crashes come down to driver behaviour

TSCZ managing director Munesu Munodawafa said about 94% of crashes are linked to human error, both outlets reported. According to Nehanda Radio, the council named speeding, drink-driving, distraction, reckless overtaking, fatigue and ignoring road rules as the main factors.

Munodawafa singled out phones. A car travelling at speed can cover more than 30 metres while its driver glances at a phone screen, he said, as reported by Nehanda Radio. He also urged tired drivers to pull over somewhere safe and rest rather than push on.

He asked journalists to look past the death toll as well. Nehanda Radio reported that he pointed to defective vehicles, overloading, road design and poor maintenance, and said repeated crashes on the same stretch of road should raise questions about signage, visibility and upkeep. 263Chat quoted him urging reporters to "identify the problem, investigate the solutions, evaluate the effectiveness, promote accountability and share lessons". He also noted, 263Chat reported, that the cost to families who lose a breadwinner often goes unreported.

Sold a car? Finish the paperwork

Police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi used the same event to remind people selling vehicles to complete the change of ownership within two weeks, Nehanda Radio reported. Sellers who do not, he warned, could still be held accountable for offences committed in a car that remains registered in their name.

That matters more now that Harare's new traffic cameras send notices to registered owners. We have reported on the camera system: Harare smart traffic cameras.

Why it matters: the festive rush is weeks away

December is traditionally one of the busiest times on Zimbabwe's roads, with families travelling between cities and rural homes and many in the diaspora flying in and driving long distances. Long-distance trips, night driving and tiredness are exactly the conditions the council's list of risks describes.

Desk tips before you drive home

These are the News Desk's own suggestions, not official advice:

Plan the trip in daylight where you can, and build in rest stops.

Put the phone away, or let a passenger handle navigation and calls.

Do not drink and drive, and do not ride with a driver who has been drinking.

Get the car checked, especially tyres, brakes and lights, before a long trip.

If you are hiring or borrowing a car, check whose name it is registered in.

If you sold a car in Zimbabwe, confirm the ownership transfer went through.

What we don't know yet

We have not seen a primary TSCZ or Zimbabwe Republic Police release with the full breakdown.

How the nine-month figures compare with the same period last year.

Which roads and provinces account for the most deaths.

We will update this story if the TSCZ or police publish more detail.

Sources: Nehanda Radio, 30 Oct 2026: https://nehandaradio.com/2026/10/30/nearly-2000-killed-as-zimbabwe-records-48150-road-crashes-in-nine-months/ · 263Chat, 29 Oct 2026: https://www.263chat.com/concern-over-road-crashes-as-human-error-accounts-for-94/

Related: Harare traffic cameras flag 4.8m offences, checks before any fines