THE recent Urban Connect bus accident along the Masvingo-Beitbridge Road has left Zimbabwe in shock and mourning.
The crash claimed 28 lives and left many injured, exposing not only shortcomings in road safety enforcement but also the critical need for passenger insurance — it is a stark reminder that passenger insurance is not just a legal requirement, but a moral duty for transport operators.
The Insurance Council of Zimbabwe (ICZ), alongside the Civil Protection Unit, stepped in to provide ex gratia payments for funeral and medical expenses.
They arranged burials for the deceased and covered hospital bills for the injured.
While this brought some relief, it also revealed a harsh truth: Urban Connect had failed to secure the mandatory public passenger liability insurance as required by law.
As a result, victims and their families were not entitled to compensation.
“We provided ex gratia payments because Urban Connect did not have the required public passenger liability cover for compensation benefits to the victims and their beneficiaries as provided by the Road Traffic Act,” the ICZ stated.
This failure highlights the vital role of passenger insurance in protecting victims and their families after such tragedies.
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Tafadzwa Goliati, national coordinator of the Passengers Association of Zimbabwe, called the lack of insurance unacceptable.
“The bus company’s non-compliance left victims’ families without compensation. This shows the need for stricter enforcement and accountability in the transport sector,” Goliati said. “It is shocking that a bus can travel from Harare to Beitbridge without being stopped, indicating a lack of priority for passenger safety in the country.”
He urged the government to take immediate action, including enforcing public passenger liability insurance, imposing stricter penalties for non-compliance, ensuring drivers get adequate rest and operators following safety standards.
Transport minister Felix Mhona revealed that Urban Connect had violated multiple regulations, including lacking valid insurance, a route permit and driver re-testing compliance.
The company’s operating licence was suspended for six months.
“We will not hesitate to suspend or cancel licences of operators who violate traffic rules and regulations,” Mhona stated.
This tragedy, as experts highlighted, underscores the importance of passenger insurance in safeguarding lives and providing financial protection after accidents.
Without it, the burden falls on government and humanitarian organisations, which may lack the resources to fully support victims.
The Urban Connect accident is a wake-up call for all stakeholders.
Transport operators must prioritise safety and compliance, while regulators must intensify monitoring and enforcement.
According to the law, owners and operators of passenger public service vehicles operating in Zimbabwe are required by the Road Traffic Act to have passenger liability insurance. This is an insurance policy, which covers passengers’ death, permanent disability, medical or funeral expenses in the event of an accident involving a passenger public service vehicle.
“As a passenger, you are urged to always check that the public transport vehicle you are using has a disc displayed on the windscreen, confirming the passenger insurance cover, the details of the insurer that issued the policy and the period of validity,” the Insurance and Pensions Commission said in its newsletter.
“In the event that a vehicle without liability cover is involved in an accident, the owner or operator of the vehicle will be liable to use his/her own funds to meet the costs of any casualties from the accident.”
It added: “Given that the vehicle had no liability cover at the time of the accident, there would be no insurance compensation available to the passenger or their surviving family. This means that the persons making the claim will have to seek compensation directly from the owner or operator of the vehicle.”
The law also states that no passenger carrying vehicle should be allowed on the road if it does not have comprehensive cover for damage to the carrier in the event of an accident and secondly, insurance for the passengers.
But in Zimbabwe, most public transport operators have failed to insure the travelling public through the passenger personal accident policy, putting the lives of passengers at risk in the event of accidents.
As Zimbabwe mourns, Mhona’s commitment to stricter enforcement is a step forward. But operators must also recognise their responsibility to passengers.
Passenger insurance is not just a legal formality — it is a lifeline that ensures dignity and support for victims and their families in times of crisis.
Goliati also suggested empowering transport associations to self-regulate, similar to other professions.
“By establishing codes of conduct, mandatory training, and regular inspections, the industry can improve standards and accountability,” he said.
Let this tragedy mark a turning point toward safer, more accountable public transportation in Zimbabwe.
