Church Members Among Victims as Minibus Collides with Truck in Central Zimbabwe

The collision occurred when a truck attempting to overtake another vehicle struck the minibus head-on, authorities reported.

Published On 29 Aug 202629 Aug 2026

At least 27 people have lost their lives following a head-on collision between a minibus transporting church congregation members and a freight truck in central Zimbabwe, according to police officials.

The incident occurred approximately 18:30 GMT on Friday along a rural highway near Chivhu, situated roughly 140 kilometres (87 miles) south of Harare, the capital city, police spokesperson Paul Nyathi confirmed on Saturday.

Authorities stated that the truck was engaged in an overtaking manoeuvre when it collided with the minibus taxi, which was transporting members of a prominent African Christian denomination en route to a religious conference.

State broadcaster ZBC News, citing a provincial government minister, reported that 23 individuals were killed at the crash site, while additional victims succumbed to their injuries after being transported to a local medical facility.

Social media footage released by ZBC depicted the extensively damaged minibus, reduced to a charred shell, with the truck positioned on the opposite side of the roadway.

The collision took place along a flat, isolated stretch of highway characterised by minimal roadside vegetation and expansive open terrain.

This tragedy represents the most recent in a series of fatal road accidents plaguing Zimbabwe’s transportation network, which has deteriorated significantly due to years of insufficient funding and maintenance.

Privately operated minibus taxis, commonly referred to as kombi, serve as the primary mode of daily transportation for many Zimbabweans, though the sector has faced ongoing criticism regarding chronic overloading practices.

Earlier this year, a separate incident in April resulted in at least 18 fatalities when a minibus caught fire on a southern highway. That same month, a woman and her five children perished when their vehicle collided with a haulage truck on another major highway connecting Zimbabwe and South Africa.

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