Zimbabwe could be heading for a major change in the way professional drivers qualify for work, with Parliament now considering a proposal that could introduce formal educational requirements for people wanting to make a living behind the wheel.
The development follows a petition from the Drivers’ Association of Zimbabwe, which is calling for driving to be formally recognised as a profession and for a legally recognised professional body to be established to regulate the occupation.
The petition has been referred to Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Transport and Infrastructural Development for consideration.
One of the most significant proposals is the introduction of minimum educational qualifications for professional drivers.
Could Maths and English become compulsory?
Under the proposal, a professional body established through legislation would be responsible for setting entry requirements for drivers.
This could mean that having a valid driving licence would no longer be the only qualification required to enter the professional driving industry.
Some employers in Zimbabwe already require prospective drivers to have at least five O-Level passes, including English and Mathematics, together with a valid driving licence and defensive driving certificate.
The proposed system could potentially take such requirements beyond individual company recruitment policies and make minimum educational standards part of the formal requirements for professional drivers.
However, nothing has been made law yet.
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The petition must first be considered by the Portfolio Committee, which is expected to engage stakeholders and conduct hearings before making recommendations to Parliament.
Why professionalise driving?
The Drivers’ Association argues that formal recognition of driving as a profession could improve standards, accountability and professionalism across Zimbabwe’s transport industry.
The proposal comes amid continued debate over road safety and transport regulation in Zimbabwe.
Heavy vehicles have also been under scrutiny, with Parliament previously discussing issues including road damage allegedly caused by haulage trucks and calls for stronger enforcement.
For truck drivers, the proposed changes could have significant implications if they eventually become law.
A system that formally recognises driving as a profession could introduce clearer career standards, but it could also create an additional barrier for drivers who have years of experience behind the wheel but do not meet proposed academic requirements.
What happens next?
The proposal is now in the hands of Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Transport and Infrastructural Development.
The committee is expected to consult drivers, transport operators and other industry stakeholders before deciding what recommendations should be made to Parliament.
For now, Zimbabwean drivers do not suddenly need a Maths or English pass to hold a driving licence.
But if the proposal gains political support and eventually becomes law, the days of simply having a licence, the necessary driving experience and the right driving qualifications could change significantly for professional drivers.
The big question now is whether Zimbabwe will make formal education part of the qualification for earning a living behind the wheel.
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