By Virginia Njovo
In the pre-dawn darkness along the Harare-Beitbridge highway, the deep groan of an overloaded truck echoes through the night. Its suspension sags underweight far beyond legal limits, its tires bulging against tarmac that shows fresh cracks despite recent repairs. This scene plays out daily across Zimbabwe’s road network, but one parliamentarian is determined to change it.
On September 2, 2025, Hon. Discent Bajila, Member of Parliament for Emakhandeni-Luveve Constituency, rose in the National Assembly to present a motion that could transform how Zimbabwe protects its road infrastructure.
Speaking to TellZim News, Bajila said his proposal calls for a nationwide network of weighbridges to finally curb what he described as “the persistent problem of overloading, which has become synonymous with haulage trucks in Zimbabwe.”
“This motion is of great national importance as unchecked overloading accelerates the deterioration of road infrastructure, shortens the lifespan of our highways, and increases maintenance costs.
“By enforcing proper weight limits, the motion seeks to preserve public investment in roads, enhance transport safety, and promote sustainable infrastructure development for the benefit of all citizens,” said Bajila.
In his motion, the parliamentarian emphasized the urgent need for action, stating that “unchecked overloading accelerates the deterioration of road infrastructure, shortens the lifespan of our highways, and increases maintenance costs.” He further stressed that the motion sought to “preserve public investment in roads, enhance transport safety, and promote sustainable infrastructure development for the benefit of all citizens.”
“Introduce comprehensive weight restrictions for goods vehicles on all major highways and suburban roads, distinguishing between road classifications and their respective load-bearing capacities. Establish clear procedures for the measurement and enforcement of these weight restrictions, including the mandatory use of weighbridges and portable weighing scales.
He also proposed the introduction of penalties for non-compliance with the stipulated weight restrictions.
“There should be penalties sufficiently deterrent to discourage overloading and mandate the display of maximum permissible vehicle weights on all goods vehicles, in a form, manner, and position as may be prescribed by regulation,” said Bajila.
The motion comes amid growing alarm over truck-related accidents and road damage. The MP’s proposal recalled several recent tragedies attributed to overweight vehicles.
In July 2025, a severely overloaded haulage truck transporting mining equipment lost control and overturned on the Masvingo-Beitbridge Highway, spilling its cargo and blocking this vital trade route for 18 hours.
Preliminary investigations allegedly revealed the vehicle was carrying nearly 40% above its legal weight limit.
In August, the along-Chirundu Highway, an overloaded timber truck experienced brake failure while descending a steep incline, resulting in a multi-vehicle collision that claimed three lives and injured several others. Witnesses reported seeing the truck’s rear axle smoking from strain before the accident.
In May 2025, along the Bulawayo-Victoria Falls Road near Hwange, an alleged overloaded coal truck overturned while attempting to avoid a pothole, scattering burning coal across the roadway and causing a bush fire that took hours to contain.
The existing weighbridge at Birchnough Bridge, one of the few operational weighing stations in the country, has repeatedly recorded trucks exceeding weight limits by up to 50%.
Similar problems have been reported at the Beitbridge weighbridge, where despite regular checks, many transporters continue to overload vehicles, especially during nighttime hours when enforcement is reduced.
Transport industry insiders describe a system where overloaded vehicles have become the norm rather than the exception saying companies would want to reduce costs by having many trips or more trucks.
“There’s tremendous pressure to move more cargo for less money. Many companies turn a blind eye to weight limits because it’s profitable in the short term – even if it destroys roads in the long term as well as the vehicles involved,” said one truck driver who asked to remain anonymous.
Hon. Bajila’s motion specifically highlighted how overloaded vehicles were destroying the nation’s infrastructure investment, noting that the situation required immediate legislative intervention.
He called for comprehensive measures that would introduce weight restrictions and establish clear enforcement procedures across all major transport routes.
The Emakhandeni-Luveve legislator’s proposal includes strategic weighbridge placement at all major border posts including Beitbridge, Chirundu, Forbes, and Nyamapanda, in addition to expanding existing facilities at Birchnough Bridge.
It also calls for establishing critical domestic checkpoints on national highways and along mining and agricultural export routes.
The proposed system would mirror successful models in neighboring countries where weighbridges have reduced road damage by up to 40% while improving road safety statistics.
For communities along Zimbabwe’s trucking routes, the motion brings hope for safer roads and reduced maintenance costs.
