KEY POINTS
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A head-on collision near Uzande Business Centre on the Chinhoyi-Chegutu Highway has left at least three people feared dead.
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The crash occurred when a Lexus allegedly overtook unsafely and collided with an oncoming Toyota Probox.
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Local residents are demanding improved road safety measures and enforcement to prevent further loss of life.
At least three people are feared to have died following a horrific crash on Thursday along the Chinhoyi-Chegutu Highway, near Uzande Business Centre in Zimbabwe’s Mashonaland West province.
Herald online reports that the crash involved a Toyota Probox and a Lexus vehicle. Eyewitnesses say the Lexus, which was attempting to overtake another car, veered into the lane of the oncoming Probox, leading to a devastating impact that left both vehicles mangled.
Local villagers, who were among the first responders at the scene, quickly mobilized to rescue the injured. They used makeshift tools and brute strength to pull victims from the crash before ambulances arrived. The injured were later taken to Chinhoyi Provincial Hospital, although officials have yet to confirm the exact number of casualties or the extent of injuries sustained.
“The driver of the Lexus was trying to overtake another vehicle when he lost control and collided with the Probox coming from the opposite direction,” said Mr. Emmerson Chitehwe, who witnessed the crash. “It was a loud bang, followed by screaming. We rushed there and started helping those who were still breathing.”
Road crash concerns escalate in Zimbabwe’s highways
The crash comes amid growing concern over increasing road carnage on Zimbabwean highways, with the Chinhoyi-Chegutu route recently flagged by road safety advocates as particularly hazardous due to poor visibility, speeding, and reckless overtaking.
According to data from the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP), head-on collisions remain among the top causes of fatal road accidents in the country, often attributed to overtaking on narrow, poorly maintained roads.
Although the Zimbabwe National Road Administration (ZINARA) has embarked on several road rehabilitation projects, local transport unions argue that public awareness campaigns and strict enforcement of traffic laws must go hand-in-hand with infrastructure upgrades.
As of Thursday evening, police were yet to release an official statement confirming the identities of the deceased. Investigations are ongoing.
Meanwhile, community leaders in Uzande are calling on authorities to install more signage and speed control measures on the highway.
“We can’t keep losing lives like this. It’s the same spot, the same problem — reckless overtaking,” said one local elder.
The incident is the latest in a series of crashes that have claimed lives across Zimbabwe in recent months, further highlighting the urgent need for a national overhaul of traffic regulation and highway safety enforcement.
