Mozambique: Eight Dead Following Road Accident in Maputo and Manica

What the report says

Mozambican authorities say two road crashes in the same evening in the provinces of Manica and Maputo left at least eight people dead and 32 injured. The report, carried by AIM and distributed by AllAfrica, says the accidents happened on Friday night, with the losses later confirmed by the National Road Transport Institute (INATRO).

In Manica, the collision occurred around 8:00 p.m. on National Road No. 6 in Messica administrative post, when a Toyota Quantum minibus struck the rear of a stationary cargo truck that had broken down and was partly in the traffic lane. INATRO said six people died in that crash, while eight were seriously injured and others suffered minor injuries. Preliminary findings cited speeding and the lack of warning signs around the disabled truck as key factors.

A second accident on National Road No. 1 in Marracuene district involved a Toyota Hiace minibus that veered off the road, hit a median barrier and overturned. Authorities said two people, including the driver, died and 21 were injured, with five of those injuries described as severe. Preliminary assessments also pointed to speed as a major cause.

INATRO and local officials expressed condolences and renewed calls for drivers to use extra caution, especially at night, and to properly mark disabled vehicles. Technical investigations into both crashes are still under way. More broadly, road safety remains a major concern in Mozambique, where busy highways and nighttime travel can increase risks.