Five individuals are feared to have lost their lives in a devastating road collision that occurred near the Mazowe Dam on Tuesday afternoon. A commuter omnibus traveling from Mvurwi to Harare collided with a large cargo truck heading in the opposite direction towards Mazowe.
The scene of the accident was chaotic, with debris scattered across the road and emergency services rushing to attend to the victims. The police were quick to respond, but officials are remaining tight-lipped about the details of the accident.
Mashonaland Police Spokesperson, Inspector Milton Mundembe, confirmed that authorities are still gathering information and will release a statement in due course. He said that the details of the accident are still sketchy.
The commuter minibus is believed to have been carrying a full load of passengers when the collision occurred, leaving many injured and others trapped inside the wreckage. The truck suffered significant damage.
The accident has sent shockwaves through the community, with many calling for improved road safety measures to prevent such tragedies in the future.
As the investigation continues, the nation mourns the loss of five precious lives.
Zimbabwe has, over the past few years, witnessed many road tragedies. Between 2015 and 2022, there were over 376,000 road accidents in Zimbabwe. An estimated 14,500 people lost their lives and scores were injured, according to TSCZ statistics.
In related news, the public’s response to the government’s proposal to increase the minimum age requirement for bus and kombi drivers from 25 to 30 years old has been conflicting.
By raising the minimum age, authorities intend to ensure that only responsible and experienced drivers are operating public service vehicles (PSVs), thereby addressing the growing number of traffic accidents and fatalities that are primarily caused by irresponsible driving.
This action is being taken at a time when the nation deals with more than 2,000 fatal traffic accidents each year, the majority of which are caused by careless driving.
