CHIVHU, Zimbabwe — A catastrophic highway collision between a heavy haulage truck and a commuter minibus carrying churchgoers killed 27 people near Chivhu, located along the Harare-Masvingo highway.
The disaster occurred around 8:30 PM on Friday, August 28, 2026 near Makumimavi Primary School, approximately 132 kilometers south of the capital.
According to the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP), the crash occurred when a foreign-registered Volvo haulage truck attempted to overtake another vehicle and collided head-on with an oncoming Nissan Caravan minibus.
The minibus was carrying members of the African Apostolic Church (Mwazha) who were traveling from Dema to Mvuma to attend a regional church conference. The force of the impact caused the minibus to burst into flames, reducing the vehicle to a charred frame on the roadside.
National Police Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed that 23 passengers died instantly at the scene, while four others passed away shortly after being rushed to nearby medical facilities. Seven additional survivors sustained severe injuries and remain hospitalized.
In an official statement, Commissioner Nyathi extended condolences to the families of the victims: "The Zimbabwe Republic Police confirms a fatal road traffic accident which occurred at the 132-kilometer peg along Harare-Masvingo Road, Chivhu. Twenty-seven people died while seven others were injured when a kombi was involved in a head-on collision with a Volvo haulage truck. Investigations are ongoing, and the names of the victims will be released once identified by their next of kin."
The tragic crash underscores the ongoing road safety challenges across Zimbabwe's major transit corridors. Traffic authorities attribute nearly 94 percent of domestic road accidents to human error, compounded by dangerous overtaking, vehicle overloading, and unlit roads during night driving. Forensic teams and accident investigators remain at the crash site as police continue their inquiry into the incident.
In response to the tragedy, government officials and church leaders have called for immediate measures to enforce stricter transport safety regulations, particularly regarding night travel and commercial vehicle inspections along the Harare-Masvingo corridor. Local authorities confirmed that trauma support and counseling services are being mobilized for the affected families and church community in Dema as the nation mourns one of its deadliest road disasters this year.
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