ZIMBABWE CRASH CLAIMS 27 LIVES AS TRUCK COLLIDES WITH CHURCH BUS

At least 27 people have died in a devastating road crash in central Zimbabwe after a haulage truck collided head-on with a minibus carrying church worshippers.

The fatal accident occurred on Friday evening near Chivhu, about 140 kilometres south of Zimbabwe’s capital, Harare, according to the country’s police.

Police said the foreign-registered truck was attempting to overtake another vehicle when it collided with the minibus travelling in the opposite direction.

The minibus was carrying worshippers who were reportedly travelling to attend a church conference when the collision occurred.

Both vehicles were carrying an unspecified number of passengers at the time of the crash, while seven other people sustained injuries in the accident.

Images released by Zimbabwe’s public broadcaster, ZBC, showed the extent of the destruction, with the minibus badly damaged and burnt out following the collision. The truck came to a stop on the opposite side of the road after the impact.

Emergency responders and other authorities were deployed to the scene as efforts were made to assist the injured and recover the bodies of those who died.

The accident has once again drawn attention to the road safety challenges facing Zimbabwe, where serious crashes frequently occur on major highways.

The country’s roads have suffered from years of inadequate maintenance, with potholes and deteriorating infrastructure contributing to difficult driving conditions in several areas.

Poor driving practices have also been identified as a major concern, particularly dangerous overtaking and speeding on highways.

Minibus taxis, commonly known as kombis, are widely used for transportation in Zimbabwe, although concerns have previously been raised about issues including overloading and roadworthiness.

The latest tragedy comes after a series of fatal road crashes recorded in the country this year.

In April, at least 18 people were killed after a minibus caught fire on a highway in southern Zimbabwe. Earlier that month, a woman and her five children also died after their vehicle collided with a haulage truck on a highway linking Zimbabwe and South Africa.

The latest crash has renewed calls for motorists and transport operators to exercise greater caution on the country’s highways, particularly when overtaking heavy vehicles.

Authorities are expected to continue investigating the circumstances surrounding Friday’s collision as efforts are made to establish the identities of the victims and provide further information on those injured.

The death of 27 people in the crash has left families and members of the church community mourning, while the survivors continue to receive medical attention.