KEY POINTS
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At least 17 people were killed after a 30-tonne truck collided with a commuter omnibus on Seke Road, crushing the kombi underneath.
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Witnesses report that a Honda Fit caused the truck to swerve, with mechanical failure possibly contributing to the loss of control.
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Rescue operations revealed disturbing scenes as emergency teams retrieved bodies, and families gathered to mourn their loved ones.
A devastating traffic accident along Seke Road at Hunyani Bridge has claimed at least 17 lives after a 30-tonne haulage truck collided with a commuter omnibus, leaving a trail of mangled metal, grief-stricken families, and a community in mourning.
According to preliminary reports, the crash occurred in the early hours of Tuesday when a Honda Fit allegedly swerved into the lane of the oncoming haulage truck. In a desperate attempt to avoid collision, the truck driver veered into the opposite lane, ramming directly into an oncoming commuter kombi. The impact was so severe that the kombi was dragged and crushed underneath the massive vehicle.
“The truck just came out of nowhere, and within seconds it was on top of the kombi,” said a visibly shaken witness who was nearby at the time of the crash. “The noise was deafening. It sounded like a bomb went off.”
Rescue teams faced harrowing scenes as they battled to free victims from a mass of twisted wreckage
By mid-morning, emergency response teams from the fire brigade, police, and ambulance services had descended upon the scene. They found the commuter omnibus almost completely flattened under the truck’s undercarriage. Twisted metal, shattered glass, and torn upholstery littered the tarmac.
Twelve people were initially pulled from the wreckage, with three rushed to hospital in critical condition. The remaining nine were declared dead at the scene.
As the day progressed, the true scale of the tragedy became clearer. Using cranes and hydraulic tools, rescue teams eventually lifted the truck from the crushed kombi, revealing eight additional bodies. This brought the confirmed death toll to 17 as of 12:00 pm.
“It’s one of the worst crash sites I’ve seen in 20 years of service,” remarked a firefighter at the scene. “It wasn’t just about saving lives today—it was also about recovering dignity for those who lost theirs.”
As the road remained closed for several hours, traffic built up for miles, causing delays and confusion. Authorities later confirmed that the likely cause of the accident was a mechanical failure on the truck, possibly a broken prop shaft, which caused the driver to lose control after attempting to swerve around the Honda Fit.
Families of the victims soon arrived at the scene, many of them alerted by phone calls from other commuters or witnesses. The site quickly turned into a place of anguish and disbelief. Heart-wrenching scenes played out as relatives identified their loved ones among the dead, with some collapsing from the shock.
“That’s my brother’s shirt. That’s his bag,” cried one man, as he clutched a bloodstained article of clothing. “He was just going to work.”
Police have since cordoned off the area and launched a full-scale investigation to establish the exact sequence of events. Authorities have urged road users to remain cautious and to report any mechanical issues promptly to prevent further tragedies of this nature.
This incident is the latest in a worrying trend of fatal traffic accidents across Zimbabwe’s roads, many of which involve commercial vehicles and public transport. It also reignites public concerns about the roadworthiness of long-haul trucks, especially on busy routes like Seke Road.
Funeral arrangements for the deceased are expected to begin as soon as formal identifications are completed and autopsies are conducted.
