Twenty-seven people have died after a minibus carrying church members collided head-on with a haulage truck on Zimbabwe’s Harare–Masvingo highway, police said.
The crash happened near Chivhu on Friday night while the passengers were travelling to a religious conference. Zimbabwe Republic Police spokesperson Paul Nyathi said the truck was overtaking another vehicle when it collided with the minibus.
State broadcaster ZBC reported that 23 people died at the scene and four others later died from their injuries in hospital. Seven people were reported injured.
Collision happened on major national route
The vehicles collided near Makumimavi Primary School, south of Harare, at about 20:30. Police said the minibus was carrying members of an indigenous African Christian denomination whose worshippers are often identified by white robes.
The minibus caught fire after the impact. Authorities had not released a complete passenger list by Sunday morning, and the names of those killed should not be circulated until families have been formally notified.
Associated Press reported the police account and said both vehicles were carrying an unspecified number of passengers. Details about the truck driver and the condition of all survivors had not been fully confirmed.
The allegation that the truck was overtaking forms part of the initial police statement. A final determination of responsibility would depend on the investigation, physical evidence and any subsequent court process.
Another heavy loss on Zimbabwe’s roads
The crash is the latest mass-casualty transport disaster in Zimbabwe. Public transport vehicles frequently cover long intercity distances, and authorities have repeatedly identified speeding, unsafe overtaking, poor vehicle condition and driver error as major risks.
The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa says the continent has the world’s highest road-traffic fatality rate despite accounting for a small share of the global vehicle fleet. Those regional figures provide context but do not establish the cause of this collision.
Motorists travelling on long Southern African routes should avoid overtaking without a clear line of sight, rest before fatigue sets in and reduce speed after dark. Passengers should use registered operators and wear seatbelts where they are fitted.
Zimbabwean police are expected to continue identifying the victims and examining the vehicles and road scene. Any change to the death toll or official account should come from the police, health authorities or the affected families’ authorised representatives.
This article uses a non-documentary road-safety illustration and does not depict the crash, its victims or the vehicles involved.
