Zimbabwe’s Roads Turn Deadly This December: 19 Fatalities Reported

HARARE — Zimbabwe’s roads have become a grim landscape this December, with 19 people losing their lives due to a spate of accidents attributed largely to human error and deteriorating road conditions.

The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has reported multiple fatal incidents, igniting a debate on the urgent need for enhanced road safety measures as the festive season unfolds.

The surge in accidents comes as families and individuals embark on holiday travels, potentially exacerbating the situation as more vehicles hit the roads.

A particularly tragic event occurred on the Masvingo-Beitbridge Road, where a multi-bus collision claimed two lives and left two others injured, painting a somber picture of holiday travel.

ZRP detailed the incident, noting a Rimbi bus collided with a Tombs Motorways bus trailer, subsequently crashing into an Mbokoto bus in a chain reaction of destruction.

Another deadly crash took place on the Harare-Nyamapanda Road on December 16, where a Toyota Hilux and a Honda Fit’s side-swipe led to two fatalities and four injuries.

The police documented the accident, highlighting how the Toyota Hilux overturned and the Honda Fit ended up on its wheels, underscoring the severity of the impact.

Just days later, near Die Guns on the Harare-Mutare Road, a Mercedes Benz and a Honda Fit collided head-on, resulting in three deaths and two injuries, with the Mercedes Benz catching fire.

The Harare-Bulawayo Road saw one of the month’s darkest moments when an Inter Africa bus smashed into a stationary truck, killing seven and injuring an unspecified number of passengers.

In a rapid succession of tragedy, a Shackman tipper truck on the Bulawayo-Victoria Falls Road overturned, carrying far too many passengers, leading to two deaths and 51 injuries.

A young life was also tragically cut short in Chitungwiza when a kombi driver, after hitting a 13-year-old learner, fled the scene, leaving a community in mourning.

Tafadzwa Goliath, from the Passenger Association of Zimbabwe, called for prudence on the roads, emphasizing the importance of rest for drivers and caution on rural routes.

The global spotlight on Zimbabwe’s road safety issues is harsh, with statistics indicating one of the highest road death rates, a stark 41 per 100,000 people succumbing to traffic-related injuries.

As Zimbabwe grapples with these tragedies, the call for better roads, stricter enforcement, and driver education grows louder, with each accident underscoring the need for immediate action.