At least 27 people have been killed in a devastating road crash in central Zimbabwe after a minibus carrying members of a church collided head-on with a haulage truck.
The accident happened on Friday night near Chivhu, about 132 kilometres south of Zimbabwe’s capital, Harare, according to police spokesperson Paul Nyathi. The passengers were travelling to a religious conference when the tragedy occurred.
Police said the truck was attempting to overtake another vehicle when it collided with the minibus on the major highway. The force of the impact caused the minibus to burst into flames, leaving the vehicle severely damaged.
Twenty-three people reportedly died at the scene, while others later died from injuries after being taken to hospital. Seven people were injured in the crash and were receiving medical attention.
The victims were members of an indigenous African Christian denomination known for wearing white robes. They were reportedly travelling together to attend a church conference when the crash occurred.
The accident has once again raised concerns about road safety in Zimbabwe, where serious crashes involving minibuses and other public transport vehicles occur regularly.
Authorities have frequently warned motorists about dangerous driving, speeding and risky overtaking. Zimbabwean officials say human error accounts for a large proportion of road accidents in the country.
The tragedy has also highlighted the wider road safety problem across Africa. According to figures cited by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, road crashes kill around 300,000 people across the continent every year, despite Africa having only a small share of the world’s vehicles.
Police have begun investigations into the circumstances surrounding the collision. The identities of the victims have not yet been fully released as authorities work with their families.
The devastating crash has left families and members of the affected church community mourning the loss of loved ones. Authorities are expected to continue investigating the incident and determine the circumstances that led to the fatal collision.
