Driver arrested as police release names of 8 people who died in horror kombi accident

HWANGE – The silence of the Deka River was broken last Saturday morning by a tragedy that has left the Catholic community in Victoria Falls in deep mourning. What was meant to be a peaceful return from a night of spiritual devotion turned into a scene of absolute horror when a Toyota Noah, packed with thirteen congregants, plummeted off the Deka Bridge. Today, as the families of the deceased begin the painful process of arranging burials, the man behind the wheel faces the full weight of the law.

Police in Hwange have confirmed the arrest of Fanuel Mathe, the driver who survived the plunge that claimed eight lives. Mathe has been officially charged with culpable homicide. Matabeleland North provincial police spokesperson, Inspector Glory Banda, stated that the arrest followed preliminary investigations into the mechanical state of the vehicle and the circumstances of the crash. “I confirm that he has been charged with culpable homicide,” Inspector Banda said. “The investigations involve the Vehicle Inspection Department (VID) and Police Traffic.”

The accident occurred at approximately 7:00 am on 23 May 2026. The congregants were travelling from a night prayer vigil at St John’s Mission in Makwa, heading back to their homes in Victoria Falls. As the vehicle reached the narrow Deka Bridge, it reportedly lost control, veered off the edge, and plunged into the river below. The vehicle was quickly submerged, trapping many of those inside.

Commissioner Paul Nyathi, the national spokesperson for the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP), released the names of the eight victims on Sunday, after their next of kin had formally identified them. The list of the departed tells a story of a community that has lost its elders, its pillars, and its future.

The victims have been identified as:

• Tizani Mbozi (51), a male adult from Victoria Falls.
• Nyoni Getrude (62), a female adult from Victoria Falls.
• Masuku Jane (72), a female adult from Victoria Falls.
• Mwale Telia (52), a female adult from Victoria Falls.
• Fungai Shumba (40), a female adult from Victoria Falls.
• Mandinyenya Ngonidzashe (37), a female adult from Victoria Falls.
• Thomas Muzamba (46), a male adult from Chinotimba, Victoria Falls.
• Keila Nduba, a female juvenile aged only four years, from Mkhosana, Victoria Falls.

The inclusion of young Keila Nduba on this list has been particularly difficult for the rescue teams and the community to process. A four-year-old child, whose life was only beginning, perished alongside the elders of her church.

“The Zimbabwe Republic Police extends its deepest condolences to the families of the victims. We urge motorists to exercise caution and prioritise road safety at all times when using the country’s roads,” Commissioner Nyathi added in his statement.

The Deka Bridge has long been a point of concern for local motorists. Narrow and often slippery during the early morning dew, it requires absolute focus from any driver. Eyewitnesses at the scene described a chaotic and heartbreaking rescue effort. “The vehicle appeared to lose control in the middle of the bridge before plunging into the river,” said one witness who arrived shortly after the crash.

Emergency rescue teams from the Hwange Colliery Company, the Zimbabwe Power Company, and the Hwange Local Board were dispatched to the site. They found the Toyota Noah almost entirely underwater. While five survivors were pulled from the wreckage and rushed to Hwange Colliery Hospital, for eight others, the help came too late. Preliminary reports from the scene suggest that the vehicle may have suffered a catastrophic brake failure, leaving Mathe unable to stop the car as it headed toward the edge of the bridge.

This incident is not an isolated tragedy but part of a grim pattern on Zimbabwe’s roads. The country has seen a sharp rise in road traffic accidents over the past year. Statistics from the 2025 festive period and the 2026 Easter holidays showed a double-digit percentage increase in fatalities. Church groups, in particular, have been frequently involved in these mass-casualty events. In April 2022, 35 members of the Zion Christian Church died when their bus crashed near Chipinge. More recently, in October 2025, a bus crash claimed 43 lives, many of whom were pilgrims.

The vehicle involved in the Hwange crash, a Toyota Noah, highlights another growing concern for road safety authorities: the use of ex-Japanese multi-purpose vehicles (MPVs) as illegal public transport, known locally as “mushikashika.” While these vehicles are designed for family use, they are often overloaded and used as high-speed commuter omnibuses. The ZRP has repeatedly launched crackdowns on these “pirate taxis,” citing their lack of proper passenger insurance and often questionable mechanical fitness.

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Hwange has reacted with profound sadness. Bishop Father Raphael Ncube declared three days of mourning, which concluded yesterday. During this period, all masses in the diocese were dedicated to the souls of the departed. The loss of eight active members in a single moment has left a void in the Victoria Falls parishes that will be felt for years.

Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution for Matabeleland North, Richard Moyo, issued a condolence message on behalf of the government. “On behalf of the Government of Zimbabwe, I extend heartfelt condolences to the Roman Catholic Church, the families of the deceased, and the entire Hwange community during this time of immense grief. We mourn with you. The loss of these eight lives, taken so suddenly while in the service of their faith, is a tragedy that diminishes us all.”

Minister Moyo confirmed that the Civil Protection Committee has been directed to coordinate support for the bereaved families. Mr Simbarashe Kayela, the Acting District Civil Protection Committee chairperson, said, “We have begun coordinating responses following the tragedy that claimed the lives of eight people. We are mobilising resources to assist the bereaved families.”

The investigation into Fanuel Mathe’s conduct will likely focus on whether the vehicle was overloaded and whether it was being operated as an unlicensed public transport vehicle. Under Zimbabwean law, the driver of a public service vehicle is held to a high standard of care. If it is proven that the brake failure was due to negligence or that the vehicle was unfit for the road, Mathe could face a lengthy prison sentence.

As the families in Victoria Falls prepare to lay their loved ones to rest, the conversation in Hwange has turned to the safety of the Deka Bridge and the unregulated nature of the transport used by church groups. Many congregants rely on hired private vehicles or “mushikashika” to attend vigils and conferences, often travelling through the night on poorly lit roads.

The tragedy at Deka Bridge serves as a stark reminder of the fragility of life. For the eight souls who set out for a night of prayer, the journey ended not at home, but in the cold waters of the Deka River. Their names now join a growing list of Zimbabweans lost to a road safety crisis that seems to deepen with every passing season.

The police investigation continues, and Mathe is expected to appear before a Hwange magistrate in the coming days. For now, the community waits for justice, even as they grapple with a loss that words can scarcely describe. The Catholic Church has called for prayers not only for the deceased but also for the survivors, who must now live with the memories of that terrible Saturday morning.

In the words of one local parishioner, “We go to these prayers to seek life and protection. To lose so many in such a way is a test of our faith. We can only hope that this tragedy leads to real changes so that no other family has to feel this pain.”

Road safety advocates are already using this incident to call for stricter enforcement of vehicle inspections and a more robust crackdown on the illegal use of family vehicles for public transport. As the country moves further into 2026, the goal of reducing road fatalities remains elusive, buried under the weight of mechanical failures, human error, and the persistent danger of the nation’s bridges.