The Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZimStats) has reported a noticeable decline in new vehicle registrations during the second quarter of 2024. Only 15,890 vehicles were registered for the first time, a sharp drop from 24,428 in the first quarter.
According to data from the Central Vehicle Registry (CVR), the registration of lighter vehicles (those under 2,300 kg) fell from 18,539 to 12,296, marking a significant decrease of 33.7%. Similarly, registrations for heavier vehicles (between 2,301 kg and 4,600 kg) dropped from 1,812 to 903, a decrease of 33.6%.
Tragically, road safety seems to have worsened during this time. ZimStats highlighted a 9.6% increase in road accident fatalities. In the first quarter, the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) reported 448 deaths and 2,625 injuries. By the second quarter, these figures rose to 594 deaths and 2,783 injuries.
On a more positive note, a total of 55,136 candidates took the certificate of competency test in the second quarter, with about 50.4% passing. However, performance varied significantly across provinces. Only Harare (55.9%) and Mashonaland East (59.3%) saw pass rates above 50%, while other regions struggled.
In brighter news for air travel, all airports across Zimbabwe experienced an uptick in flight numbers. Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport recorded 6,717 flights, reflecting an 18.7% increase from 5,659 flights in the first quarter.
Additionally, the rail sector faced challenges with 54 rail accidents reported during the same period.
Overall, while some sectors are seeing growth, the decline in vehicle registrations and the rise in road accidents highlight ongoing concerns for safety on Zimbabwean roads.
