The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has announced that pedestrians caught crossing public roads while wearing earphones or headphones will be fined US$30.
Authorities say this measure is intended to curb road accidents and improve pedestrian safety.
According to the police, the fine is enforced under traffic regulations that prohibit pedestrians from crossing roads while distracted by electronic devices, including mobile phones and earphones. ZRP spokespersons have warned that failure to comply will result in immediate penalties as officers intensify road safety enforcement across urban centers.
Police argue that earphones reduce a pedestrian’s ability to hear approaching vehicles, horns, or emergency warnings, thereby increasing the risk of fatal accidents.
Zimbabwe continues to record high numbers of pedestrian-related road deaths, prompting authorities to adopt stricter measures. Speaking on the enforcement of this regulation, ZRP Gweru Midlands liaison officer Inspector Emmanuel Mahoko stated that the law is grounded in existing legislation allowing police to act against unsafe public behavior.
“The Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act, Chapter 9:07 defines a crime of nuisance that accommodates all miscellaneous acts committed in public. All minor inappropriate acts are charged under this section if circumstances require action to be taken,” Mahoko said.
In Bulawayo, police recently conducted a road safety awareness campaign in the Central Business District (CBD), warning pedestrians against using earphones, headphones, or mobile phones while crossing roads.
Bulawayo provincial police spokesperson Inspector Nomalanga Msebele reported that police were recording at least five cases daily of pedestrians being hit by vehicles in the CBD, with most incidents linked to distraction.
Msebele added that continued risky behavior could result in pedestrians being fined.
This warning comes on the heels of previous fatal incidents in Gweru, including a case where a 28-year-old woman from Riverside was allegedly struck by a goods train near the Gweru-Kwekwe road and Mvuma-Gweru railway junction.
Investigations revealed that the woman was wearing earphones at the time and may have failed to hear the approaching train, resulting in her immediate death.
However, this announcement has sparked sharp criticism from young pedestrians in Gweru, who argue that the regulation is punitive, unrealistic, and unfairly targets pedestrians instead of addressing deeper road safety issues.
Several young residents expressed concerns over why pedestrians are heavily fined while motorists who speed, ignore traffic lights, or drive unroadworthy vehicles often face inconsistent enforcement.
“As a young person, this law feels disconnected from our reality. US$30 is a lot of money in a country where many young people are unemployed.
“Wearing earphones does not automatically mean someone is reckless,” said 24-year-old university graduate Tinashe Moyo.
He argued that many pedestrians use earphones for calls, online work, or navigation, especially in towns where digital platforms are now part of everyday life.
“Instead of education and safer crossings, the solution seems to be punishment,” he stated.
Others pointed out that poor pedestrian infrastructure makes compliance with the law difficult. In many towns, zebra crossings are faded or non-existent, traffic lights malfunction, and pavements are either damaged or occupied by vendors.
“You’re told to cross safely, but where? There are no footbridges, cars don’t stop at zebra crossings, and now we’re the ones being fined,” said 22-year-old informal trader Rutendo Chivasa.
Critics also argue that the law risks becoming a tool for harassment and selective enforcement, particularly against young people who already face frequent police checks in central business districts. Road safety advocates among the youth say they support accident prevention but believe that awareness campaigns, proper signage, functional crossings, and driver discipline would be more effective than fines.
“This law criminalizes normal behavior without addressing the real problems. Safety should start with infrastructure and responsible driving, not punishing pedestrians who are just trying to get through their day,” Moyo said.
As enforcement begins, the debate highlights the growing tension between public safety objectives and the lived realities of Zimbabwe’s young urban population, many of whom feel the law places an unfair financial burden on those least able to afford it.
