President Emmerson Mnangagwa has expressed shock and dismay following the deaths of several people in a bus accident that occurred on Thursday at a tollgate in Beitbridge.
Mnangagwa has declared the accident a national disaster following the loss of 24 lives.
In a statement, Mnangagwa expressed deep sorrow over the fatal crash, describing it as both horrifying and heartbreaking.
“The death of 24 Zimbabweans in a head-on collision between an Urban Connect bus and a commercial haulage truck along the Beitbridge-Masvingo Highway this morning left me horrified and heartbroken. Fellow Zimbabweans, our nation does not deserve this at all, let alone experiencing such a bloody incident at the beginning of the year. We have to do all that is possible to curb this unjustified loss of life,” he said.
The President urged all motorists to exercise extreme caution on the roads to safeguard their own lives and those of fellow road users.
Mnangagwa Declares Beitbridge Crash a National Disaster
Mnangagwa reaffirmed the government’s commitment to supporting the affected families and declared the accident a national disaster.
“Government has therefore declared this incident a national disaster and will accord victims of this horrendous crash State-assisted burial,” Mnangagwa added.
The President also extended his condolences to the bereaved families and wished the injured a swift recovery.
The fatal accident occurred at the 262-kilometer peg near Lutumba Toll Gate around 8:00 a.m. on February 13, 2025. An Urban Connect bus, carrying 65 passengers, collided head-on with an Auro Transport haulage truck, which had four occupants, resulting in the loss of 24 lives.
