The role of government policy in reducing road carnage: evidence from Zimbabwe’s public passenger transport sector

• Road fatalities in Zimbabwe’s public transport rose over 40% between 2020 and 2022. • Systematic review compares Zimbabwe with Sweden, Singapore, Kenya, and South Africa. • Zimbabwe’s road safety policies remain reactive, fragmented, and underfunded. • Effective models rely on integrated policy, digital monitoring, and decentralized enforcement. • Study applies Public Sector Performance and Collaborative Governance frameworks for reform. Road traffic injuries remain a pressing public health and development challenge in Zimbabwe, with public passenger transport accounting for a disproportionate share of fatalities. Despite multiple government-led policy interventions, including driver retesting, vehicle inspections, and speed enforcement technologies, road deaths increased by over 40% between 2020 and 2022. This study critically examines the role and effectiveness of government policy in reducing road carnage in Zimbabwe’s public passenger transport sector between 2000 and 2024. A qualitative systematic literature review was conducted, complemented by a comparative case study analysis of international best practices from Sweden, Singapore, Kenya, and South Africa. The study applies Public Sector Performance Theory and Collaborative Governance Theory to assess policy implementation, institutional capacity, and stakeholder engagement. Findings reveal that Zimbabwe’s policy approach remains reactive, enforcement-heavy, and poorly aligned with long-term safety goals. Key limitations include institutional fragmentation, low technological adoption, underfunding, and minimal stakeholder participation. Comparative insights highlight the potential of decentralising enforcement, adopting AI-based monitoring, and embedding road safety into broader urban governance frameworks. The study concludes that while government policy is necessary, it is insufficient without structural reforms in implementation, oversight, and collaboration. It recommends a transition toward integrated, evidence-based, and participatory policymaking. The findings have significant implications for policymakers, development partners, and urban planners seeking to improve public transport safety in low-resource contexts.