By Sharon Chimenya
MASVINGO – At least three fatal hit-and-run accidents were recorded in Masvingo Province over the Easter holidays, prompting the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) to urge motorists to stop at accident scenes and render first aid where possible.
In a statement released on Wednesday, national police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi called on motorists to act responsibly and strictly adhere to road regulations.
During the Easter holidays, a total of 337 road traffic accidents were recorded, compared to 384 during the same period in 2025. Of these, 22 were fatal, resulting in 30 deaths, while in 2025, 21 fatal accidents claimed 24 lives. The number of injured persons declined significantly, from 178 in 2025 to 104 in 2026.
No major road traffic accidents involving public service vehicles were recorded during this period.
He said on April 4, three fatal hit-and-run road traffic accidents were recorded in Masvingo Province.
The first incident occurred at approximately 1:30 am at the 91 km peg along the Masvingo-Beitbridge Road, where an unidentified motorist struck and killed a pedestrian before fleeing the scene.
The second incident took place near the Roman Catholic Church, close to the Zengeza Business Centre at Renco Mine, where a Volvo abnormal load truck struck a pedestrian and failed to stop. The victim died on the spot.
The third accident happened at the 22 km peg along the Masvingo-Copota Road, where another unidentified motorist hit a pedestrian and fled, resulting in the victim’s death.
“The Zimbabwe Republic Police reiterates that motorists involved in accidents must stop, render first aid where possible, and report every incident to the police. Motorists are also urged to use reflective warning triangles in the event of breakdowns or accidents, reduce speed, and exercise caution when approaching vehicles displaying hazard lights. Above all, motorists are urged to act responsibly, comply with all road rules and regulations, and prioritise the safety of all road users,” said Commissioner Nyathi.
The province also recorded a tragic accident on the eve of the period under review, in which a mother and her five children were killed when a Toyota Corolla collided head-on with a truck at the 246 km peg along the Harare-Masvingo Road.
Meanwhile, Commissioner Nyathi highlighted that speeding was identified as the leading cause of accidents during the holiday period.
“During the 2026 Easter holiday, speeding led to many motorists losing control of their vehicles and overturning. Unsafe overtaking also contributed to several head-on collisions recorded during the period,” he said.
He said that of the 30 people killed, the majority were pedestrians, accounting for 19 deaths (approximately 63 percent). Passengers made up the second-largest group with seven fatalities (about 23 percent), while drivers accounted for three deaths (10 percent), and one rider was killed (just over 3 percent).
Among the recorded incidents was a fatal road traffic accident at the 51 km peg along the Bulawayo-Beitbridge Road on April 3, at approximately 9:10 pm. Seven people were killed, and four others were injured when a truck rammed into three vehicles—a Nissan March, Toyota Probox, and Toyota Hiace (Baby Quantum)—which had been involved in an earlier accident.
The truck struck the three vehicles and the pedestrians who had gathered at the scene, resulting in the fatalities.
