By A Correspondent

Only 15 890 vehicles were registered for the first time in the second quarter, down from 24 428 in the first quarter, according to data from the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZimStats).

ZimStats stated that road accident fatalities rose by 9.6% during the same time period. “According to data from Central Vehicle Registry (CVR), vehicles up to 2 300kg have decreased from 18 539 to 12 296 which is a -33,7% decrease, whereas heavy vehicles 2 301-4 600kg have also decreased from 1 812 to 903 which is a -33,6% decrease,” the report said.

“In the first quarter of 2024, there were 2 625 injuries and 448 recorded deaths, while in the second quarter of 2024, there were 594 recorded deaths and 2 783 injuries, indicating a 9.6% increase,” the ZimStat report stated. This information was provided by the Zimbabwe Republic Police [ZRP] PGHQ [Police General Headquarters] Statistics Department.

55,136 candidates nationwide reportedly took the certificate of competency exam in the second quarter of this year, with 50.4% passing.

According to ZimStat, “the percentage of candidates who passed certificate of competency tests during the second quarter of 2024 was less than 50% in all provinces except Harare (55.9%) and Mashonaland East (59.3%).”

It further stated that during the same time period, the number of flights increased at every airport in the nation.

“Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport saw 6 717 flights, which is an 18.7% increase from 5 659 flights during the 2024 fight quarter.”

54 rail accidents in all were reported during that time.