HARARE – At least 15 people were killed in a horrific road traffic collision between a Mercedes Sprinter and a truck along the Harare-Masvingo Road on Friday.
In a statement, police confirmed the tragedy.
“The ZRP confirms a fatal road traffic accident which occurred this afternoon at around 4PM at the 53 kilometre peg along Harare-Masvingo Road in which 15 people were killed after a Sprinter kombi travelling towards Masvingo was involved in a head on collision with a truck travelling towards Harare,” police said on the official X handle on Friday.
The Masvingo Mirror reported that the Harare-bound haulage truck – which overturned and landed on its back – was attempting to overtake a VW Polo but instead clipped the smaller vehicle on the right side. The haulage truck then collided head-on with the Sprinter which was overloaded with 44 passengers.
Zimbabwe’s roads are among the world’s deadliest, according to statistics.
Appearing before parliament’s portfolio committee on Transport and Infrastructural Development recently, Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe Chief Executive Officer, Munesu Munodawafa also said that on average, five people die while 38 are injured in accidents daily in the country.
According to statistics, the highest number of casualties are aged between 25 and 45 years.
Apart from their steep cost to human life, road accidents have also come at a financial to the nation which spends US$406 million worth of dollars annually, Munodawafa said.
According to the World of Statistics released in 2023, 41 per every 100 000 people die of road traffic injuries in Zimbabwe.
