More than half of the 65 000 people who took road tests between April and June this year failed to pass the examination, a new report by the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZimStat) shows.
Only 45.5 percent (about 29 000) of those who took the certificate of competency test passed.
Passing the road test at the Vehicle Inspectorate Department (VID) is mandatory for one to acquire a driver’s licence.
The high failure rate has been attributed to a lack of practice and nervousness among prospective drivers.
According to the report, about 44 000 out of the 71 981 prospective drivers who sat the provisional driver’s licence test passed, representing a 62.7 percent pass rate. Part of the report says:
<blockquote>
At national level, 65 453 candidates undertook the Certificate of Competency test during the second quarter of 2023, of which less than half (45.5 percent) succeeded.
In all provinces, except Harare and Mashonaland East, the proportions of candidates who passed the certificate of competency tests during the second quarter of 2023 were less than 50 percent, ranging from 29.1 percent in Midlands to 41.3 percent in Manicaland.
About 84 percent of the individuals who went for retests succeeded.
</blockquote>
Speaking in an interview with <a href="https://www.sundaynews.co.zw/55-percent-failing-drivers-licence-tests/">The Sunday Mail</a>, Transport and Infrastructural Development Permanent Secretary Joy Makumbe said:
<blockquote>
The ministry considers this as an improvement from the last decade, where the pass rate was hovering between 22 and 30 percent.
This improvement is attributed to the acquisition of better equipment by driving schools.
This pass rate is statistically comparable to other advanced countries.
</blockquote>
Harare Driving School Association president Macnally Mbedzi claimed that a lack of road signs and road markings in the city was contributing to the poor pass rates. He said:
<blockquote>
We believe the poor pass rates could be a result of things such as a lack of road signs and road markings, among other things.
There is also the problem of not having a proper training ground that has proper facilities, for example, a facility for hill-start training, three-point turn markings and parallel parking spaces.
If we can have a proper training ground and proper infrastructure, higher pass rates can be obtained.
</blockquote>
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55 Percent Failing Driver’s Licence Road Tests - ZimStat

The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) is investigating a theft case in which an unknown suspect who was conducting riding lessons fled with a motorcycle belonging to the driving school that was training him.
Police say the instructor was yet to record the suspect’s identity details. Sid police in a statement:
<blockquote>
The ZRP is investigating circumstances surrounding a case of theft of motorcycle which occurred on 29/11/21 at Robert Mugabe Square, near Rotten Row Magistrate Court, Harare where an unknown suspect, who was conducting riding lessons, rode off with a motor-cycle (ADO 7409) belonging to a local driving school. 
He left the instructor shocked and waiting. The instructor had not recorded any particulars of the suspect.
</blockquote>
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Learner Flees With Driving School's Motorcycle

This article was sponsored by the Zimbabwe Teachers Investment Trust.
The Zimbabwe Teachers Investment Trust (ZITIT) National Board is thrilled to announce the launch of ZITIT DRIVING SCHOOL (ZDS)(Harare Provincial Project) operating as a strategic business unit of ZITIT INVESTMENTS (PVT) LTD.
Teachers in Harare Province are thus afforded a rare and unique opportunity to become investors and shareholders of this lucrative venture that will spread its wings to all provinces through a franchise arrangement that will be rolled out soon.
ZITIT is masterminding an economic revolution that will see once sidelined educators participating in the mainstream economy through companies created by the trust for teacher economic empowerment.
<h2>Registration Procedure</h2>
ZDS shall offer services to teachers, civil servants, students and private sector clients.
Clients are required to complete an online application form that will be <a href="https://chat.whatsapp.com/GyUXps3Rhd1Cfuc19Gi5a5">submitted via a link embedded in the form.</a>
Alternatively, members can call ZDS on 08644282538, WhatsApp 0718600781 or visit ZDS premises at No.15 Norwich Avenue, Eastlea, Harare for more details.
ZDS shall endeavour to offer quality lessons at affordable and flexible terms.
<h2>Payment Modalities</h2>
ZDS Clients shall have an option to pay for driving lessons in USD or ZWD equivalent or access a ZITIT FINANCE loan to fund the full training program up to VID testing.
Loan facility shall only be granted to civil servants who shall repay the amount through SSB instalments.
Trust members shall be able to access loan funding at discounted interest rates. Prices of services on offer are embedded in the online application form.
Clients registration is to start immediately while trading will commence on 1 October 2021.
<h4>More: <a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a></h4>

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