National Disaster Declared as Deadly Seke Road Crash Exposes Deep Faults in Road Safety

By Shingirai Vambe

HARARE – Zimbabwe woke to horror and heartbreak on the morning of July 22, 2025, as news spread of a deadly crash along Seke Road at the Hunyani Bridge near Water Works in Chitungwiza. In what has been described as one of the worst traffic accidents in recent memory, seventeen lives were lost in a collision involving a 30-tonne haulage truck, a commuter omnibus, and a Honda Fit, whose presence may have set off the fatal chain of events.

The crash, sudden, violent, and tragic, has once again placed the spotlight on Zimbabwe’s roads, exposing a brutal mix of human error, mechanical negligence, and systemic failure that continues to claim innocent lives almost daily. It is not just another accident. It is a loud and urgent alarm ringing across a nation that has normalized bloodshed on its highways.

The aftermath was nothing short of apocalyptic. The commuter omnibus, which had been heading towards Harare during peak morning hours, was reduced to a twisted shell of metal and shattered glass. According to eyewitnesses, the haulage truck swerved abruptly after a Honda Fit allegedly veered into its lane, forcing the driver to react instinctively. In a desperate attempt to avoid a head-on collision with the smaller car, the truck crossed into oncoming traffic, and collided head-on with the unsuspecting kombi.

The impact dragged the commuter omnibus several meters before crushing it beneath the weight of the truck. Emergency services arrived within minutes, but for most passengers, it was already too late. Three critically injured individuals were pulled from the wreckage and rushed to hospital. The rest were declared dead at the scene, their bodies mangled beyond recognition.

The stretch of Seke Road was cordoned off as firefighters and paramedics struggled to retrieve bodies and remove the debris. Grief-stricken families began arriving in waves, some collapsing at the sight, others waiting helplessly for identification and confirmation.

This tragedy is far from isolated. Zimbabwe has witnessed a sharp increase in road traffic accidents in recent years, with thousands of lives lost due to a cocktail of reckless driving, unroadworthy vehicles, poor enforcement of traffic regulations, and rising vehicle congestion, especially in urban and peri-urban areas.

Authorities continue to cite human error, speeding, misjudgement, overtaking in unsafe conditions — as the leading cause. However, mechanical faults, lack of vehicle servicing, and a worrying trend of driving without adequate rest among long-haul truck drivers are just as lethal. Add to this a failing infrastructure, inadequate public transport systems, and poorly policed roads, and the result is a deadly traffic culture with little accountability.

In acknowledgment of the gravity of the incident, President Emmerson Mnangagwa declared the crash a national disaster, announcing state-assisted funerals for all the deceased. The move, while welcomed by some, also sparked renewed debate about why such tragedies persist without meaningful reform.

Meanwhile, the Insurance Council of Zimbabwe (ICZ) was swift to activate compensatory mechanisms. In a public statement, ICZ confirmed that both vehicles involved were fully insured, with the kombi covered under the Public Passenger Liability policy and the haulage truck insured via the COMESA Yellow Card scheme.

“The Insurance Council of Zimbabwe (ICZ) and its members, the non-life insurers and reinsurers in Zimbabwe, extend their profound and heartfelt condolences to the families and the nation of Zimbabwe on the devastating loss of seventeen lives,” the statement read.

In a rare show of administrative preparedness, the ICZ contracted a funeral service provider to handle comprehensive arrangements and announced that next of kin of the deceased can access compensation via a dedicated toll-free line. The ICZ is working closely with the Zimbabwe Republic Police and the Civil Protection Unit to provide relief to affected families.

ICZ, Insurance and Pensions Commission (IPEC) continue to raise awareness with public transport operators to acquire passenger liability cover, with reports from both institutions, that only 50 percent have complied with the law.

While the swift insurance response may provide temporary financial relief, it does little to prevent the recurrence of such catastrophes. What Zimbabwe urgently needs is preventive governance: stronger road safety enforcement, regular inspection of public service vehicles, better driver training, and continuous public education.

Critics argue that police checkpoints, once meant for public safety, have become revenue-generation tools. Unroadworthy vehicles roam freely as long as bribes are paid, and thousands of informal commuter operators continue to ply roads without valid licences or proper inspections.

The Post is seized with the matter, having sent questions to various stakeholders, the Ministry and the Police to respond on errand road use of government officers and policy position.

As Zimbabwe mourns the loss of 17 souls, mothers, fathers, breadwinners, children, the country must ask hard questions. How many more must die before there is real accountability? When will passenger safety become a non-negotiable national priority? How long will insurance be used as a band-aid for deep systemic wounds?

Until these questions are answered, and real action is taken, Zimbabwe’s roads will remain death traps. And every journey, no matter how short, will carry the silent fear of never returning home.

Meanwhile, a haulage truck lost control, veered off the road, and fell into Rusape River along Harare Mutare Highway. according to reports, There were no casualties.

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