The Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development, Felix Mhona, has announced amendments to the Road Traffic (Licensing of Drivers) Regulations, 2025, which take effect immediately upon publication.
The development was confirmed by Permanent Secretary for Information, Nick Mangwana, through his official X (formerly Twitter) account.
The new regulations introduce a key change aimed at enhancing road safety and ensuring public transport drivers have more experience.
Under the amendment, individuals seeking to operate public service vehicles, particularly omnibus and commuter omnibus operators, must now be at least 30 years old and have a minimum of five years of driving experience to qualify for a license.
These changes modify the Road Traffic (Licensing of Drivers) Regulations, 2023, specifically revising section 4 to address concerns over the increasing number of accidents involving passenger service vehicles.
The government says the new age and experience requirements are meant to reduce incidents caused by inexperience among public transport drivers.
However, a transitional provision has been included in the amendment to accommodate drivers between the ages of 25 and 30 who were already licensed to operate public service vehicles before the new regulations were introduced.
These drivers will be permitted to continue working without needing to meet the updated age and experience requirements.
The regulatory changes were officially published as Statutory Instrument 1 of 2025 and will be strictly enforced. The Ministry of Transport emphasised that the amendments are particularly crucial in urban areas, where commuter omnibuses are a major mode of transport.
This latest policy adjustment underscores the government’s commitment to improving road safety and ensuring that only qualified and experienced drivers are entrusted with public transportation.
Authorities believe the new measures will contribute significantly to reducing road accidents and improving overall commuter safety across Zimbabwe.
