The festive season in Zimbabwe has been marred by a surge in road traffic accidents, with 19 lives lost and dozens injured in December alone.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has reported multiple fatal crashes, raising alarm over the state of road safety in the country.
Most of these accidents have been attributed to human error and poor road conditions. With increased travel ahead of the Christmas holidays, authorities fear the numbers could rise further.
Among the most harrowing incidents was a multi-bus collision on the Masvingo-Beitbridge Road last Sunday. Two people were killed, and two others were injured when a Rimbi bus crashed into the trailer of a Tombs Motorways bus before hitting a Mbokoto bus.
On December 16, two lives were lost, and four people sustained injuries in a collision between a Toyota Hilux and a Honda Fit along the Harare-Nyamapanda Road. According to a ZRP statement, the crash occurred at the 156-kilometre peg when the vehicles side-swiped, causing both to overturn.
Barely a week earlier, three people died, and two others were injured in a head-on collision between a Mercedes Benz and a Honda Fit on the Harare-Mutare Road near Die Guns turnoff. The Mercedes Benz caught fire, leaving the vehicle burnt to a shell.
A particularly tragic incident on December 8 claimed seven lives on the Harare-Bulawayo Road. An Inter Africa bus rammed into a stationary truck at the 330-kilometre peg in the early hours of the morning. The injured were rushed to Gweru Provincial Hospital, while the deceased were transferred to the mortuary for post-mortem examinations.
Two days later, a Shackman tipper truck carrying 69 passengers overturned along the Bulawayo-Victoria Falls Road, killing two people and injuring 51.
Another incident on December 15 claimed the life of a 13-year-old Grade 7 learner on New Chitungwiza Road. The child was struck by a Nissan Caravan kombi, whose driver fled the scene.
These alarming statistics have prompted calls for caution and preventive measures. Tafadzwa Goliath, president of the Passenger Association of Zimbabwe, urged motorists to prioritize safety.
“We urge motorists to exercise caution and not to speed, especially on hazardous rural roads. Operators should ensure drivers get adequate rest and that drivers use their rest time appropriately,” Goliath said.
World statistics highlight the dire state of Zimbabwe’s road safety. The World of Statistics ranks Zimbabwe as one of the world’s most dangerous countries for road travel, with 41 out of every 100,000 people dying from road traffic injuries.
The ZRP continues to advocate for stricter adherence to traffic regulations, improved road infrastructure, and heightened public awareness campaigns to combat the rising toll of accidents.
