Chimanimani, Zimbabwe – The Harare-Mutare highway, a vital artery connecting Zimbabwe’s capital to its eastern border, has once again been the scene of a serious accident.
Yesterday, a haulage truck overturned near the 60-kilometre peg near Marondera, narrowly avoiding a potentially fatal collision with two other vehicles. While the two following motorists escaped with their lives, the incident underscores the persistent dangers on this stretch of road.
According to eyewitness accounts, the haulage truck, travelling from Mutare towards Harare, was exceeding the speed limit.
“The haulage truck driver was speeding and therefore failed to negotiate or realise the depression. The vehicle lost control as a result and ultimately landed on its side,” one witness explained.
The loss of control caused the truck to overturn, forcing the two vehicles behind it to swerve off the road to avoid a collision.
“The other two vehicles which were following behind failed to maintain braking distance and in avoiding a fatal accident, they all drove off road,” the witness added.
The accident highlights the ongoing challenges of reckless driving on Zimbabwe’s roads. The quick thinking of passersby prevented a potentially worse outcome. They rushed to the overturned truck, rescuing the trapped driver and switching off the engine of the now-disabled vehicle. This act of bravery underscores the community’s response to the frequent accidents along this route.
This latest incident is unfortunately not an isolated case. The Harare-Mutare highway has gained a grim reputation for its high accident frequency. Numerous incidents in recent years have been attributed to speeding, failure to negotiate bends, dangerous overtaking, disregard for road signs, and other driver errors. The road’s condition, and the behaviour of drivers, clearly pose significant risks to motorists.
In June of this year, a particularly devastating accident near Mutangadura, at the 32km peg, resulted in four fatalities and fourteen injuries. Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) national spokesperson, Commissioner Paul Nyathi, detailed the events: “The ZRP has established that a Freightliner truck, which was travelling towards Marondera and occupying the outer lane, turned right onto the inner lane, in front of a Tenda bus, which was travelling towards Marondera with 56 passengers on board. The bus was about to overtake the haulage truck.
“Resultantly, the Tenda bus hit the trailer of the truck before swerving onto the oncoming traffic lane where it collided with a Zhong Tong bus owned by Phils and Pats Bus Services which was travelling towards Harare with 25 passengers on board, resulting in four people loosing their lives whilst 14 others were injured.”
The victims were identified as Kennedy Ngoshi (40), Plaxedes Kasambwa (36), Monica Katema (54), and another unnamed woman.
And in December 2023, a collision involving a Blue Horizon bus, a haulage truck, and a Mercedes Benz in Marondera claimed five more lives and injured 36 others. These recurring incidents paint a disturbing picture of the dangers on the Harare-Mutare highway.
The high frequency of accidents involving haulage trucks has prompted calls for stricter regulations and enforcement. Witnesses have suggested implementing time restrictions for haulage truck travel, particularly at night, to reduce the risk of collisions with other vehicles. This proposal aims to alleviate the congestion and improve safety for all road users.
The consistent pattern of accidents, particularly those involving heavy goods vehicles, demands urgent attention from authorities to address the underlying causes and implement effective safety measures. The human cost of inaction is simply too high.
