Tragedy struck on Zimbabwe’s roads this week, with a horrific head-on collision claiming two lives and injuring nine others on the Harare-Chirundu Highway. The accident, which occurred on Wednesday, October 23rd, 2024, at approximately 11:00 am, involved a Toyota Fortuner and an overloaded Honda Fit mushikashika.
National police spokesperson, Commissioner Paul Nyathi, confirmed the incident, stating: “The ZRP confirms a fatal road traffic accident which occurred at the 171 kilometre peg along Harare-Chirundu Road on October 23, 2024 at around 11 am.”
He detailed the circumstances, explaining: “Two people were killed while nine others were injured when a Toyota Fortuner vehicle with no passengers on board allegedly tried to overtake a motor cycle resulting in the vehicle colliding head-on with a Honda Fit vehicle with eight passengers on board.”
Legally, a honda fit car should carry a maximum of four passengers. The severity of the collision is underscored by the fact that the victims were transported to Karoi Hospital mortuary for post-mortem examinations, while the injured received treatment at the same hospital.
The accident highlights the ongoing dangers of reckless driving on Zimbabwean roads. The Toyota Fortuner’s attempt to overtake a motorcycle in what was clearly an unsafe manoeuvre directly resulted in the fatal head-on collision. Further investigation will undoubtedly focus on establishing the precise circumstances leading to the overtaking manoeuvre and determining any potential contributory factors.
Meanwhile, a separate incident in Harare has left police appealing for public assistance. On October 1st, 2024, at approximately 7:52 pm, a woman was struck by a Toyota Hiace vehicle along Robert Mugabe Road near Mukuvisi Bridge. Sadly, she succumbed to her injuries.
Police are currently working to identify the victim, who is described as being approximately 23 to 25 years old. Details released by the police include her clothing: a green and black top, a pink hat, lime green and grey shoes, and a ring on her middle finger. Her body is currently at the Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals mortuary.
