Copyright myzimbabwe
Harare – Zimbabwe’s roads have become death traps, with a series of horrific accidents claiming the lives of several people and leaving many others seriously injured in the past week. Police have released details of multiple incidents across the country, painting a grim picture of the dangers facing travellers. One of the most tragic incidents occurred along the Chivhu-Nyazura Road on Friday, 24 October 2025, at the 73-kilometre peg. A haulage truck, laden with cement, collided with a Toyota Hiace minibus carrying twelve passengers. The impact, which occurred when the truck struck the kombi from behind, resulted in the immediate deaths of five people, including the driver. Eight other passengers sustained serious injuries and were rushed to Murambinda Hospital for treatment. National police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the details and released the names of the deceased, who have been identified by their next of kin. The victims include: Takunda McGregor Ndoro (29) of Mt Pleasant Heights, Harare, who was driving the kombi; Juliet Chikasha (58) of Southlea Park, Harare; Juliet Makunike (25) of Burma Valley, Mutare; Taurai Manyewu (51) of Epworth, Harare; and Muzonda Marumbei (94) of Nyamande Village, Buhera. The death of the 94-year-old Muzonda Marumbei highlights the indiscriminate nature of these tragedies. Commissioner Nyathi urged drivers to exercise extreme caution on the roads at all times, a plea that comes as a direct response to the escalating number of accidents. In another fatal incident, police are investigating a crash that occurred at the 192-kilometre peg along the Harare–Masvingo Road near Mvuma on Sunday, 26 October 2025. A Nissan Caravan, carrying seven passengers towards Harare, reportedly lost control and overturned twice before landing on its left side. Tragically, two people died at the scene, while four others sustained injuries. Earlier in the week, on Thursday, 23 October 2025, three people were killed and 18 others injured in a head-on collision near Rusape, in Manicaland province. Commissioner Nyathi confirmed that a Nissan Caravan kombi, travelling towards Mutare with 19 passengers, collided head-on with a Toyota Mark II vehicle which had no passengers on board. The bodies of the deceased were taken to Rusape General Hospital Mortuary for post mortem examinations, while the injured were admitted to the same hospital for treatment. Adding to the catalogue of accidents, police have also confirmed a fatal road traffic accident at Eleven Months, just after the Msasa Roundabout along the Harare–Mutare Road. This incident involved a head-on collision between a Land Rover Discovery and a commuter omnibus. According to initial reports, the Land Rover Discovery was travelling towards Mutare in the oncoming lane, while the kombi was heading towards the city centre from Mabvuku. Following the initial collision, a haulage truck then rammed into the kombi from behind, veered to the right, and subsequently collided with a Toyota Hilux. Police have indicated that further details regarding this accident will be released in due course. The accidents are not limited to public transport vehicles. On Saturday night, two people died following a head-on collision involving a Zanu PF-branded vehicle being driven by Sheppard Marime, popularly known as Spillo, and another vehicle along the Harare–Chirundu Highway near Karoi. According to witnesses, Marime, who is the Zanu PF national youth league secretary for education and a member of the central committee, was travelling towards Karoi when his vehicle encroached onto the opposite lane and collided head-on with a Toyota FunCargo coming from the opposite direction. Marime sustained serious injuries, including broken hands, but was reported to be in a stable condition upon arrival at hospital. “Comrades, I was involved in an accident, but I’m fine because we were quickly attended to. Unfortunately, I broke all my hands,” he said, according to reports. Tragically, two passengers from the Toyota FunCargo later died at Chinhoyi Provincial Hospital from injuries sustained in the crash. Another passenger, also from the Toyota FunCargo, is in critical condition. In total, nine people were injured in the accident. Despite being in visible pain after the collision, Marime reportedly chanted Zanu PF slogans while awaiting medical assistance. “Pamberi nekubatana (Forward with unity), pasi nemhandu (down with detractors),” he declared, attempting to lift his spirits amid the chaos. Mashonaland West police spokesperson Inspector Ian Kohwera confirmed the accident, stating: “Yes, we received an accident involving a Ford Ranger and a Toyota FunCargo at the 200km peg along the Harare-Chirundu road.” The Harare-Chirundu road has been a source of concern for some time. Karoi residents have often complained about the condition of the stretch of the road where the accident occurred, which they say is notorious for head-on collisions due to narrow lanes and poor visibility at night.
