A devastating head-on collision between a bus and a truck in Zimbabwe has claimed the lives of 24 people.
The accident occurred on Thursday, 13 February 2025, near Beitbridge, a border town in southern Zimbabwe, close to South Africa, according to police spokesperson Paul Nyathi.
The bus, carrying 65 passengers, was en route from Harare to Beitbridge. Preliminary investigations suggest the bus was attempting to overtake another vehicle when it collided with the truck, Nyathi said. The number of injured remains unclear.
Images from the scene, shared by state media, depicted covered bodies and the wreckage of both vehicles. The state-run Herald newspaper reported that 17 people died at the crash site, while a further seven succumbed to head injuries at a Beitbridge hospital. They also reported that 30 people were injured and receiving hospital treatment.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa expressed his sorrow, describing the crash as a “national disaster.” He announced that the government would cover funeral expenses and urged drivers to exercise extreme caution on the roads, stating: “Our nation does not deserve this at all, let alone experiencing such a bloody incident at the beginning of the year.”
