Seventeen people lost their lives in a tragic head-on crash between a minibus taxi and a haulage truck in Zimbabwe on Tuesday, July 22, 2025, according to police. The fatal accident took place near Chitungwiza, a heavily populated area about 25 kilometers southeast of Harare, the capital city.
Police spokesperson Paul Nyathi confirmed that all 17 victims died at the scene. The collision occurred after the truck driver lost control, causing the vehicle to swerve into the opposite lane. Before striking the minibus, the truck hit two pedestrians who were walking on what Nyathi referred to as the road’s “island.”
Fifteen of the minibus’ passengers were killed instantly, while others who sustained injuries were taken to a hospital for treatment. The state-owned Herald newspaper described the minibus as being so severely crushed that only pieces of its frame could be seen stuck under the truck.
The crash site was described as harrowing, with mangled metal, broken glass, and debris scattered all over the road. Rescue teams spent several hours working to free trapped passengers from the wreckage. Though the accident happened in the morning, recovery operations extended into the afternoon, with rescuers still retrieving bodies around midday.
Rosaria Mangoma, the mayor of Chitungwiza, urged the government to recognize the crash as a national disaster. She called the incident “one of the most distressing and traumatic events” the town had ever faced.
This tragedy is part of a recurring pattern of deadly road accidents involving public transportation in Zimbabwe. Authorities point out that speeding is common among drivers trying to increase the number of trips they make each day, and neglected road conditions add further risk to travelers.
A similar incident occurred in February when 24 people died in a head-on collision between a bus and a truck near Beitbridge, close to the South African border. These repeated tragedies underscore the persistent issues facing Zimbabwe’s transport infrastructure and safety standards.
According to the national statistics agency, Zimbabwe experiences a road accident every 15 minutes, leading to at least five deaths each day. This figure ranks among the highest road fatality rates on the African continent, impacting the country’s population of approximately 15 million as they go about their daily journeys.
The incident has sparked renewed calls for better road safety and infrastructure improvements across Zimbabwe’s transportation system. Officials continue to face challenges as they work to decrease the frequency and severity of accidents involving public transport, which remains a primary mode of travel for many residents.
