Zimbabwe: Government Declares State of Disaster After Highway Crash Claims 27 Lives

What the report says

Zimbabwe’s government has declared a State of Disaster after a fatal road crash on the Harare-Masvingo highway near Honeyspruit Bridge in Chikomba District, Mashonaland East, according to New Zimbabwe as distributed by AllAfrica. The accident involved a haulage truck carrying mining equipment from South Africa to Goromonzi and a commuter omnibus transporting members of the African Apostolic (Mwazha) Church.

Local Government and Public Works Minister Daniel Garwe said the two vehicles collided head-on and a fire broke out, leaving passengers trapped inside the minibus. The report says 24 people died at the scene and three more later died at Chivhu General Hospital, bringing the confirmed toll to 27. Seven other victims were reported in critical condition, with some transferred to Harare for further treatment.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa invoked the Civil Protection Act to enable coordinated assistance and the mobilisation of resources for survivors and bereaved families. Emergency teams, assisted by local residents from Chivhu, carried out rescue and recovery work, while a fire tender and heavy-duty crane were used to clear the wreckage and restore traffic on the highway. The bodies were taken to Chivhu General Hospital mortuary for identification and post-mortem procedures.

The disaster declaration underscores the scale of the loss and the need for official support to affected families. Background context: in Zimbabwe, such declarations are used to speed up state assistance after major emergencies.