Bulawayo, (New Ziana)-Five people were injured when a minibus was hit by a train at a level crossing at Nandi in Chiredzi, Masvingo province on Thursday night.
The National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) confirmed the incident saying three men and two women sustained varying degrees of injuries and have been rushed to hospital for treatment.
It is the second incident to happen in Chiredzi in one week after a bus was struck by another train last Wednesday, resulting in nine deaths and twenty six injuries.
“The NRZ wishes the injured persons a speedy recovery. We urge motorists, especially those driving Public Passenger Vehicles, to stop at level crossings as required and proceed only after ensuring that there is no approaching train. We would also like to advise Chiredzi residents and those travelling to the area to be extra vigilant during this cane harvesting season when train activity increases owing to movement of the crop to milling plants and transportation of raw sugar,” the NRZ said.
Meanwhile, in a separate incident, a man died after being run over by a train near Melfort in Goromonzi district, Mashonaland West province, about 40 kilometers from Harare on the Harare-Mutare Highway on Wednesday night, after reportedly sitting on the railway tracks as the train approached.
The latest incidents add to a growing number of rail-related accidents recorded across the country, many of which have been linked to motorists and pedestrians failing to observe railway safety regulations.
Road safety experts have repeatedly warned that level crossings remain high-risk zones, particularly where visibility is poor or motorists ignore warning signs.
In recent months, the NRZ, working with other road safety agencies, has intensified public awareness campaigns aimed at reducing collisions at railway crossings.
New Ziana
