Kathmandu— At least 27 people were killed on Friday evening when a minibus carrying members of a church collided with a haulage truck in central Zimbabwe, approximately 140km (87 miles) south of Harare. The crash occurred around 18:30 GMT near Chivhu as the truck attempted to overtake another vehicle, according to police spokesperson Paul Nyathi. Victims were travelling to a conference when the collision took place, resulting in significant casualties at the scene and further deaths after hospital admission.

Details of the Collision

The crash involved a minibus taxi – commonly known as a ‘kombi’ – and a large haulage truck. Nyathi stated that the truck was overtaking another vehicle when it collided head-on with the minibus. Footage circulating on social media, broadcast by ZBC News, depicts the severely damaged minibus reduced to charred wreckage, with the truck positioned on the opposite side of the road. The incident took place on a relatively flat and remote stretch of roadway.

Casualty Reports

Initial reports from state-run broadcaster ZBC News, citing a provincial government minister, indicated that 23 people died at the scene of the crash. Additional fatalities occurred after injured individuals were transported to a local hospital for treatment. The total confirmed death toll currently stands at least 27.

Road Safety Concerns

This incident is part of a pattern of deadly road accidents in Zimbabwe, attributed to years of underfunding and subsequent deterioration of the country’s road infrastructure. Many Zimbabweans rely on privately operated minibus taxis for daily transportation; however, these vehicles are frequently criticized for being overloaded. Similar tragedies have occurred recently, including an April incident where 18 people died when a minibus caught fire on a highway, and another earlier that month in which a woman and her five children were killed in a collision with a truck.

Authorities are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the crash and assess the full extent of the casualties. The incident highlights ongoing concerns about road safety and transportation standards within Zimbabwe.

(With inputs from Al Jazeera)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.