President Emmerson Mnangagwa has expressed shock and dismay following the deaths of several people in a bus accident that occurred on Thursday at a tollgate in Beitbridge.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Mnangagwa has declared the accident a national disaster following the loss of 24 lives.
In a statement, Mnangagwa expressed deep sorrow over the fatal crash, describing it as both horrifying and heartbreaking.
“The death of 24 Zimbabweans in a head-on collision between an Urban Connect bus and a commercial haulage truck along the Beitbridge-Masvingo Highway this morning left me horrified and heartbroken.
Fellow Zimbabweans, our nation does not deserve this at all, let alone experiencing such a bloody incident at the beginning of the year. We have to do all that is possible to curb this unjustified loss of life,” he said.
Beitbridge accident cause
The president urged all motorists to exercise extreme caution on the roads to safeguard their own lives and those of fellow road users.
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“All arms of the government that are responsible for ensuring safety on our roads are thus constantly reminded to work around the clock and evoke all legal means and powers available to them to reduce and subsequently put an end to such carnage,” President Mnangagwa said.
Mnangagwa Declares Beitbridge Crash a National Disaster
Mnangagwa reaffirmed the government’s commitment to supporting the affected families and declared the accident a national disaster.
“The government has therefore declared this incident a national disaster and will accord victims of this horrendous crash state-assisted burial,” Mnangagwa added.
The president also extended his condolences to the bereaved families and wished the injured a swift recovery.
“As I express my deepest, heartfelt condolences to families and relatives who have lost loved ones in this horrific crash, I also heartily and prayerfully reach out to all those injured and hospitalised, wishing them a speedy recovery,” said the president.
The fatal accident occurred at the 262-kilometer peg near the Lutumba Toll Gate around 8:00 a.m. on February 13, 2025. An Urban Connect bus, carrying 65 passengers, collided head-on with an Auro Transport haulage truck, which had four occupants, resulting in the loss of 24 lives.