Police have released the names of 25 people killed in the Chivhu kombi accident, as the death toll from the head-on collision rose to 28 after another injured passenger died in hospital.
The crash happened at about 8.30pm on August 28 near the 132km peg along the Harare-Masvingo Road, close to Honeyspruit Bridge. The commuter omnibus was carrying members of an African Apostolic Church congregation travelling from Dema to Ndarikure in Mvuma for a church conference when it collided with a South African-registered haulage truck.
The force of the impact set the kombi on fire. Several passengers were trapped inside the vehicle, while others were thrown out in the collision. Twenty-four people died at the scene and three later died after being taken to hospital. The latest death was recorded after one of the injured passengers, who had been admitted to Chitungwiza General Hospital, succumbed to their injuries.
National Police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi said: “The death toll has risen to 28 following the death of one of the injured passengers who was admitted at Chitungwiza General Hospital.”
The victims identified by their relatives are Tanaka Magiya, 11; Talent Magiya, 13; Adiel Magiya, 2; Nenyasha Magiya, 4; Mellisa Magiya, 39; Rumbidzai Kashongo Bonda, 29; Believe Bonda, 10; Tehila Bonda, 2; Tavonga Bonda, 8; Wisdom Masava, 13; Devine Masava, 9; Jonathan Marahwa, 34; Moline Chamboko, 57; Plaxecedes Nyamayaro, approximately 68; Humfrey Chikaka, 44; Lizzy Nhema, 38; Tawandamupandawana, 2; Wisdom Chikaka, 10; Kuzivakwashe Chikaka, 12; Tariro Chikaka, 14; Shamiso Chikaka, 8; Idyai Munyanyiwa, 52; Bernenia Zvomuya, 63; Christine Nyakuzviranga, 68; and Itai Fusirai, 46.
Three victims have not yet been identified. Their remains were burnt beyond recognition, leaving families waiting for forensic tests before the bodies can be formally named and released.
“The remaining three victims were burnt beyond recognition and their identities have not been conclusively established,” Commissioner Nyathi said.
“The CID Forensic Department has obtained forensic samples from the three unidentified remains for analysis to enable the identification process to be concluded.”
He added: “The Police will only release the identities of the three victims once the DNA forensic examination has positively confirmed their identities.”
The Bonda family from Zhanje Village in Dema lost Rumbidzai Kashongo Bonda, 29, and her three children, Believe, 10, Tavonga, 8, and Tehila, 2. Four children from the Chikaka family also died: Wisdom, 10, Kuzivakwashe, 12, Tariro, 14, and Shamiso, 8.
The loss has left relatives dealing not only with funerals, but also with the shock of discovering that a routine journey to a religious gathering had ended in a mass-casualty disaster. At the crash site, residents, emergency workers and members of the Civil Protection Unit worked through the night. Small cranes were used during the recovery operation, while fire equipment was brought in to extinguish the burning kombi. The wreckage and the truck blocked the road before the carriageway was eventually cleared.
Albert Magiya, whose wife and children were travelling in the kombi, said he had noticed that the hired vehicle was overloaded before it left. He changed his own travel plans and boarded public transport with a colleague, expecting to meet his family at the conference. Instead, as his bus approached Chivhu, he saw traffic slowing near the crash scene and then recognised the burning vehicle.
“After leaving my family in that kombi, we then boarded a bus with my colleague. I did not even know that that was the last moment to see my wife and my children alive. We travelled well, until we reached near the accident scene where there was a traffic jam. At first, I thought it was just another road block and as vehicles moved slowly we reached the scene,” he said.
“The first thing that I saw was a kombi, which had caught fire. I even realised it was the same kombi with my wife and children. We quickly disembarked and what I saw outside broke my heart. People were dead. Some of the bodies were still inside the kombi, and they too were burning. It looked like some of the passengers had been thrown out of the kombi due to the head-on collision.”
Magiya said he found his wife still breathing and saw four of his children lifeless. He was unable to identify another child, who was among the victims awaiting forensic examination.
Emmanuel Bonda also said his wife had complained that the kombi was overloaded before the journey began.
“She packed her clothes and that of the kids around 12 and by 2pm they were already in the kombi,” he said.
“One thing that she was complaining about was that the kombi was over-loaded. She even asked me if I knew of anyone who had a vehicle going to the same conference so that she and the kids could get a lift, but I knew no-one. I wished them a safe journey,” he said.
When Bonda tried to call his wife later that evening, there was no answer. He continued calling, believing that the phone might have been inside her purse, until church members at the conference told him about the collision. At Chivhu General Hospital the following day, he began identifying his family members.
“We were told that some people were injured and were rushed to hospital and we could only see them on the next day. Today we went to the hospital and that is when I was told that a lot of people had died. The first person I identified was my son, then others. I am so hurt. Losing my entire family, just like that is unbearable,” he said.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa declared the accident a national disaster and directed the Government to assist with burial arrangements and the treatment of survivors. Coffins, food and other assistance were provided to the bereaved families. Ministers Daniel Garwe, Felix Mhona and Tatenda Mavetera attended a memorial service, while officials and traditional leaders visited the crash site.
Transport and Infrastructure Development Minister Felix Mhona urged motorists to take greater care on the roads.
“It is sad that we are gathered here at this place, with tears in our eyes, mourning the sad departure of our loved ones, who perished in a road traffic accident. It is painful that our loved ones are perishing due to road accidents. This is painful. I appeal to all of you to remain strong and be comforted in these difficult moments,” he said.
“I appeal to motorists to be cautious on the roads. Do not speed, do not overload and adhere to all stipulated road rules and regulations. Let us all be responsible road users.”
The Chivhu disaster came only days after a ferry tragedy on Lake Kariba in which at least 92 people had died by August 17, with search teams still recovering bodies. At least 18 children were among those killed in that disaster. In April, at least 18 people also died when a minibus caught fire on a highway in southern Zimbabwe.
Police have urged Zimbabweans to avoid travelling at night, citing visibility and observation challenges. The force has also appealed to church leaders and conference organisers to co-ordinate journeys so that congregants do not travel after dark and do not hire or board vehicles that fail to meet road-safety standards.
“We appeal to church leaders and conference organisers to co-ordinate and ensure congregants do not travel at night and avoid hiring or boarding vehicles which are not adhering to the country’s road safety standards and measures,” Commissioner Nyathi said.
As families prepare to bury the dead, the forensic process continues for the three unidentified victims. The names released by police have given relatives and neighbours a formal record of those lost, but the work of identifying every victim and bringing the families together for final goodbyes is not yet complete.