Antony Chawagarira
CHIREDZI — Four people died and 12 others were injured in a head-on collision along the Roy-Buffalo Range Road. Farmers who arrived at the scene were forced to ferry some of the injured to the hospital while waiting for emergency services.
The fatal accident occurred at the 120-kilometre peg at about 8 p.m. on August 28 and involved a Toyota Hilux travelling towards Zaka with nine passengers and a Nissan AD Van travelling towards Chiredzi with five passengers.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police confirmed the accident, stating that the four victims died on the spot while 12 others sustained injuries.
“The ZRP confirms a fatal road traffic accident that occurred at the 120-kilometre peg along Roy-Buffalo Range Road on 28/08/26 at approximately 2000 hours. Four people were killed, and 12 others were injured when a Toyota Hilux, travelling towards Zaka with nine passengers, and a Nissan AD Van, travelling towards Chiredzi with five passengers, were involved in a head-on collision,” police said.
The bodies were taken to Chiredzi General Hospital mortuary for post-mortem examinations.
For some of the injured, their first lifeline came from four Mkwasine farmers who happened to be nearby and rushed to the crash scene.
The farmers said they had to improvise and use available vehicles to transport injured victims to Chiredzi General Hospital while waiting for emergency response teams and ZRP traffic officers from Triangle and Chiredzi.
One of the farmers said the urgency of the situation left them with little choice but to act.
“We could not just stand there and watch people suffer. Some of the injured needed immediate attention, so we used the vehicles we had to take them to the hospital while waiting for the emergency teams,” he said.
Another farmer said the crash scene was overwhelming and chaotic.
“It was frightening. There were injured people who needed help, and everyone was trying to do something. We are farmers, not trained emergency responders, but at that moment, we had to act,” he said.
A third farmer said the incident exposed the need for a faster emergency response along the road.
“Every minute matters when someone has been seriously injured. Communities can assist, but there must be a system in place so that ambulances and trained responders reach such scenes quickly,” he said.
Another farmer said the tragedy had left the community traumatised.
“Four people died, and many others were injured. It is painful. We hope this accident will push authorities to strengthen emergency response along this road so that people do not have to wait for help after such tragedies,” he said.
ZRP traffic officers from Triangle and Chiredzi later attended the scene as investigations into the circumstances surrounding the collision got underway.
The accident adds to a growing list of road tragedies that have made August one of the country’s deadliest months for transport-related incidents.
The month has been marked by a series of fatal road crashes, while the country has also been mourning major losses of life in several incidents on its inland waterways.
The latest crash has therefore renewed calls for motorists to exercise greater caution and for authorities to strengthen emergency response systems along major highways.
Police have consistently urged motorists to avoid speeding, dangerous overtaking, and other reckless driving practices while ensuring that vehicles are roadworthy.
