During the Heroes and Defence Forces Holidays this year, there were thirty-seven traffic accidents nationwide that resulted in 37 fatalities and over 100 injuries.
On August 12 and 13, 2024, there were four deadly traffic incidents in Marondera, Harare, and Nyanga.
On August 8, a Ford Ranger and a Honda Fit crashed head-on close to Marondera, resulting in the deaths of five family members and the injuries of four more.
In a different accident in Marondera, on August 12 at around 3pm, a Toyota Isis carrying seven persons collided head-on with a Freightliner truck that had no passengers on board at the 53km peg along the Harare-Mutare Road, resulting in five fatalities and three injuries.
Three of the five victims, an adult female from Elmswood Park in Marondera named Alice Mavhudzi (46), an adult female from Mutamba Street in Dombotombo, Marondera named Letty Mandaza (30), and an adult male from Sunningdale 3, Harare named Tapiwa Mabiza (40), were identified by their next of kin.
The next of kin of the other two fatalities have not yet identified them.
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While the injured were admitted to the same hospital, the victims’ remains were sent to the mortuary of Marondera Provincial Hospital for a post-mortem examination.
Near around 6.45 a.m. on August 13, 2024, near the intersection of Seke Road and St Patrick’s in Hatfield, a Toyota Hiace kombi carrying 15 passengers side swiped with a Mazda Bongo Van carrying 4 passengers, resulting in three fatalities and 32 injuries.
After that, a Nissan Caravan kombi carrying eighteen passengers and the Toyota Hiace kombi collided head-on.
The victims, Wayne Chipuriro (42), a man adult from Chipuriro Village, Mutoko; Pecking Feliati (40), a male adult from Unit L Extension, Seke Chitungwiza; and Christable Makwanya (32), a female adult from Unit K, Chitungwiza, were identified by their next of kin.
Two bodies of the victims were taken to Chitungwiza Central Hospital mortuary, while the body of the third victim is at Sally Mugabe Hospital for post-mortem.
The injured victims were admitted to Chitungwiza Central Hospital and Sally Mugabe Central Hospital.
In another accident which occurred on August 13, 2024, at around 9pm at the 34km peg along Nyanga-Rwenya Road at Tangwena Turn off, five people were killed, while 60 others were injured when a Hino Dutro Truck carrying 64 church congregates veered off the road.
Meanwhile, in another fatal accident which occurred on August 13, 2024, at around 10pm along Magadzire-Dazi Road near Nyagoma Village, Tangwena, Nyanga, a Nissan Caravan kombi carrying 12 passengers overturned resulting in the death of three passengers and injuries to five others, including the driver.
The vehicle failed to ascend a steep hill and rolled backwards before overturning several times and landing on its wheels.
Six people who were part of a group of church congregates died in an accident that occurred at the 81km peg along Bulawayo-Plumtree Road on Sunday at around 8am.
Commissioner Paul Nyathi, a spokesman for the national police, stated, “The Zimbabwe Republic Police asks motorists to refrain from overtaking when it is unsafe to do so.
“Church leaders are once again reminded that anytime they are hosting sizable meetings, they should arrange suitable transportation for attendees in order to reduce traffic accidents.
“First and foremost, all automobiles—public or private—should undergo routine maintenance, inspections, and certification that they are safe to drive.”
According to Herald , today, ZRP are supposed to make public detailed statistics.