Another Crash on Zimbabwe’s Railways

The chaos at railway crossings in Zimbabwe is nothing new, yet it continues to escalate, with drivers persistently ignoring clear safety guidelines. A dangerous, near-suicidal tendency to “race the train” plagues Zimbabwe’s roads.

On October 16, a bus collided with a train at Paisley Level Crossing on Harare’s Lytton Road. The National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) confirmed the driver recklessly tried to beat the oncoming train across the tracks.

Unfortunately, the race against the train didn’t end there. Three other vehicles, using the bus as their shield, were also caught in the devastating impact. The incident left shockwaves in the community, heightening the discussion around railway safety across the country.

The NRZ has consistently urged drivers, especially those operating public transport, to respect railway crossing rules. Yet, these warnings seem to be ignored far too often, putting countless lives at risk. One must wonder whether more drastic enforcement is needed to stop these catastrophic events.

This isn’t an isolated occurrence. In fact, Zimbabwe has seen several similar accidents in the past few months. In July, a lorry attempted the same deadly race against a train on the Harare-Mutare line, leading to yet another collision. Sadly, no lessons appear to have been learned from these harrowing accidents.

Later that same month, a school bus carrying students from Versatile Academy in Mutare was struck by a train. The driver had failed to follow the established safety protocols at the Wilton Level Crossing. The result? Several injured children, and another sobering reminder of the dangers that come with recklessness on Zimbabwe’s roads.

Shockingly, just a week earlier, an AVM bus carrying 66 passengers met a similar fate in Harare. The June 25 accident left one dead and seven injured when the bus collided with a train after the driver failed to stop at a railway crossing near Paisley Road.

These incidents reveal a troubling pattern of negligence on Zimbabwe’s roads, particularly when it comes to level crossings. Despite clear warnings and the presence of safety measures, drivers continue to gamble with their lives—and the lives of others—at railway crossings.

It raises a critical question: Why is this happening? Are Zimbabwean drivers simply too confident, believing they can outpace a train? Or is it a deeper systemic issue, where road users are not educated or penalized strongly enough for these lapses in judgment?

Railway crossings are inherently dangerous, but they don’t have to be death traps. The constant occurrence of accidents at crossings like Paisley and Wilton highlights a national failure to adequately enforce the rules and ensure public safety. The NRZ’s repeated calls for vigilance at level crossings can no longer be ignored.

Zimbabwe has a duty to strengthen its road safety enforcement, especially in urban areas where these accidents are most frequent. There needs to be more aggressive awareness campaigns, educating drivers on the life-and-death risks of ignoring railway signals.

Perhaps it’s time for advanced warning systems, stronger deterrents, or even increased penalties for those who attempt to cross railway lines without ensuring the tracks are clear. The government must also look into improving the visibility of level crossings across the country. Installing barriers at all major crossings, if feasible, could significantly reduce these reckless acts.

It’s not just about caution; it’s about saving lives. The tragic incidents involving buses, lorries, and schoolchildren should be enough to make road users take a pause. Yet, the behavior continues, seemingly unchecked, leading to more accidents and more heartbreak.

Zimbabweans need to take these warnings seriously. The gamble of trying to beat a train at a level crossing is one that nobody should make. For the safety of the nation’s roads, drivers need to treat railway crossings with the seriousness they deserve, before more lives are senselessly lost.

The time to act is now. The NRZ, the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP), and road authorities must collaborate more effectively to prevent the next tragic headline from appearing. And drivers must take their share of responsibility too, by adhering to established safety measures and valuing human life over dangerous shortcuts.

This disturbing trend of recklessness must stop—before the next train arrives too late for another victim on Zimbabwe’s roads.

The Zim Bulletin