Harare, (New Ziana)– Tragedy struck Zimbabwe’s roads over the Heroes and Defence Forces holiday, claiming seven lives and injuring more than thirty others in two separate crashes in Masvingo and Hwange.

In the deadliest incident, six members of the Zion Christian Church (ZCC) perished when a Toyota Quantum carrying twenty two congregants veered off the road and overturned before landing on its wheels along the Mutare–Masvingo Road in the early hours of Monday.

“The Zimbabwe Republic Police confirms a fatal road traffic accident which occurred at the 283-kilometre peg along Mutare–Masvingo Road at around 0200 hours,” Police Spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi said. “Six people were killed while 16 others were injured.”

The bodies of the victims were taken to Masvingo General Hospital for post-mortem, while the injured remain admitted at the same institution.

The names of the deceased will be released once their next of kin have been notified.

In a separate crash, one person died and twenty others were injured when a Nissan NP300 carrying twenty passengers overturned after the vehicle’s left rim broke.

The accident occurred at around 0500 hours on Sunday, at a bridge along Four Mile Drive near Hwange Colliery Training Centre.

Police have linked both tragedies to avoidable causes, urging motorists to drive with heightened caution.

“The Zimbabwe Republic Police reiterates that motorists should avoid speeding on the roads and, above all, observe all road rules and regulations to safeguard human lives,” Commissioner Nyathi said.

The back-to-back accidents come as the country continues to grapple with high road carnage, particularly during holiday periods when travel spikes.

New Ziana