A horrific South Africa-bound three-bus collision on the Beitbridge-Harare highway, just after Bubi heading towards Masvingo, has left a grim toll of casualties, with fears that the death toll may be substantial.
The accident, which occurred in the early hours of today, has caused significant disruption on this busy thoroughfare and sparked widespread grief and concern across the nation.
Eyewitness accounts paint a catastrophic picture of the aftermath. Videos circulating on social media show one bus lying on its side, while the two others, though upright, are heavily entangled, highlighting the immense force of the impact.
Emergency services responded swiftly, but the sheer scale of the devastation presented significant challenges for rescuers.
Authorities are yet to release an official confirmation of the number of fatalities and injuries. However, unverified reports suggest a high death toll and numerous critical injuries among the passengers. The buses involved were reportedly carrying a large number of passengers, reflecting the high volume of traffic on this vital route for both domestic and international travellers.
The cause of the collision remains under investigation, but preliminary findings suggest that speeding and potentially reckless overtaking manoeuvres may have contributed to the tragedy. The stretch of road near Bubi has a history of accidents, raising serious questions about the adequacy of existing road safety measures on this critical transport corridor.
This tragedy underscores the urgent need for enhanced road safety initiatives, particularly during peak travel periods like the festive season. The government, through the Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe (TSCZ), has launched a nationwide campaign to address the alarming rise in road accidents. This campaign involves over 50 roadblocks across major highways, focusing on speeding, unroadworthy vehicles, and overloading.
The campaign, launched last week, brings together the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP), Vehicle Inspection Department (VID), Central Vehicle Registry (CVR), and the Road Motor Transportation (RMT) department in a collaborative effort to enforce traffic laws and safety standards. The initiative includes 16 mobile road safety units using police motorcycles and patrol vehicles to monitor speed limits, identify overloaded vehicles, and verify driver certifications. Additionally, 36 static roadblocks are strategically positioned along major routes for comprehensive vehicle inspections.
Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Permanent Secretary Ambassador Raphael Faranisi confirmed the government’s commitment, stating: “We have mobilised sufficient resources to ensure there are adequate police on the roads to check for compliance with traffic laws…Deployment will extend to residential areas to maintain peace and order and also to border posts to counter transnational organised crimes.”
The campaign is a response to the alarming increase in road traffic accidents this year. Between January and September 2024, 39,461 accidents were recorded – an 8% increase compared to the same period in 2023. The number of fatal accidents also rose slightly, from 1,130 to 1,169, resulting in a significant increase in fatalities from 1,373 to 1,532.
TSCZ managing director Munesu Munodawafa highlighted the dual focus of the campaign: “This festive season, the campaign focuses on two critical pillars: awareness and enforcement…The TSCZ is primarily responsible for raising awareness by educating drivers about the importance of road safety. However, enforcement has taken a more prominent role this year, with multiple regulatory agencies working together to ensure compliance with traffic and safety regulations.” He further noted that over 50 unroadworthy vehicles were removed from the roads within two hours of the campaign’s launch.
The campaign employs a multi-agency approach, with the ZRP enforcing traffic laws, the VID inspecting vehicles, the RMT verifying documentation, and the CVR authenticating driver’s licences. New high-tech scanners are being used to authenticate documents and insurance papers, streamlining the verification process. A total of 52 teams, including 36 static and 16 mobile units, have been deployed nationwide.
