Traffic

27 killed in head-on collision between minibus and haulage truck near Chivhu, Zimbabwe

PrimeTime News Desk Published 29 August 2026

3 min read

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A head-on collision between a minibus taxi and a foreign-registered haulage truck on Friday night killed 27 people and injured seven others near Chivhu in central Zimbabwe, according to police.

The crash occurred around 8:30 p.m. local time on 28 August 2026 along the Harare-Masvingo Road, near Makumimavi Primary School, at approximately the 130- to 132-kilometre mark south of Harare. The location is about 130 to 140 kilometres south of the capital.

Zimbabwe Republic Police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the details in a statement on Saturday. A Nissan Caravan NV350 kombi (minibus) carrying an unspecified number of passengers was involved in a head-on collision with a Volvo haulage truck that was also carrying an unknown number of passengers.

Police said the foreign-registered truck was attempting to overtake another vehicle when the collision occurred. The minibus was transporting members of the African Apostolic Church (Mwazha), a popular indigenous African Christian denomination known for its white robes. The passengers were travelling from Dema to Mvuma for a church conference.

Mashonaland East Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Advocate Itayi Ndudzo confirmed that 23 people were pronounced dead at the scene. Four more died later from their injuries after being admitted to hospital, bringing the total death toll to 27. Seven people were injured and taken for medical treatment. The bodies of the deceased were taken to the mortuary at Chivhu Hospital. Police stated that the names of the victims would be released once identified by next of kin.

Footage and images shared by the state broadcaster ZBC and local media showed the minibus severely damaged and reduced to a charred shell after it caught fire following the impact. The truck came to rest on the opposite side of the road. The crash took place on a flat, remote stretch of highway with low vegetation along the roadside.

Both vehicles were reported to have been carrying an unspecified or unknown number of passengers at the time. Investigations into the exact circumstances are continuing, with police indicating that further details would be provided as the probe progresses.

Road traffic accidents remain a significant issue in Zimbabwe. Authorities have previously attributed a high proportion of crashes to human factors, alongside challenges with road conditions on major routes. Minibus taxis, known locally as kombis, form a primary mode of public transport for many people.

This account is based on official police statements and reports from multiple outlets citing those statements and provincial authorities. No further verified details on the specific identities of drivers or additional passenger counts had been released at the time of reporting.