A tragic road accident claimed the lives of ten people along the Harare–Nyamapanda Road on Wednesday, police have confirmed. The horrific head-on collision involved an overloaded Honda Fit and a haulage truck, leaving a scene of devastation near the Suswe area.
The accident occurred at approximately 11:30 AM at the 185-kilometre peg, according to national police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi. The Honda Fit, a small vehicle known locally as a “mushikashika” when used for informal public transport, was carrying ten occupants and travelling from Mutoko to Kotwa. It collided head-on with a haulage truck heading towards Harare, which had four occupants.
Commissioner Nyathi confirmed the grim details, stating: “The ZRP reports the death of ten people in a fatal road traffic accident at the 185 km peg along the Harare–Nyamapanda Road, near Suswe Area, on 17 December 2025 between 11:30 am and 12 noon.”
He further explained the circumstances leading to the collision: “A Honda Fit with ten occupants, which was travelling from Mutoko to Kotwa, had a head-on collision with a haulage truck travelling to Harare. The truck had four occupants.”
Preliminary investigations by the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) suggest that the Honda Fit may have been responsible for the tragedy. “It is alleged that the Honda Fit encroached onto the lane of oncoming traffic, resulting in the collision,” Commissioner Nyathi revealed.
The consequences were devastating. All ten occupants of the Honda Fit perished at the scene of the accident. The condition of the four occupants of the haulage truck was not immediately available, but none were reported dead.
“All ten occupants of the Honda Fit have died,” Commissioner Nyathi confirmed, adding that “More details will be released in due course.”
This tragic incident is part of a larger pattern of road accidents plaguing Zimbabwe’s highways. On the same day, another accident occurred along the Harare–Mutare Road near Masimba Gardens in Ruwa, claiming three lives and injuring 15 others. This second accident involved a Toyota Hiace kombi carrying 18 passengers, which overturned after a tyre burst.
The kombi accident occurred at around 11:45 AM at the 32.5-kilometre peg. Police reports indicate that the right rear tyre burst, causing the driver to lose control of the vehicle. The kombi overturned before landing on its left side.
These accidents come at a particularly sensitive time, as police have been running nationwide safe driving campaigns ahead of the busy Christmas and New Year’s holidays. Historically, this period sees a surge in road traffic accidents, making the police’s efforts all the more crucial.
The combination of overloaded vehicles, often poorly maintained, and reckless driving habits continues to make Zimbabwe’s roads a dangerous place, particularly during peak travel seasons. The ZRP is urging motorists to exercise caution, adhere to traffic regulations, and ensure their vehicles are roadworthy to prevent further loss of life.
Follow @MyZimbabweNews
