Traffic chaos as Honda Fit runs out of fuel on Victoria Falls bridge

The Victoria Falls Bridge was brought to a standstill this afternoon when a motorist abandoned his newly imported Honda Fit in the middle of the bridge after it ran out of fuel. The incident occurred around 1:30 PM, creating a traffic jam that left vehicles stranded on both sides of the iconic single-lane structure.

The driver, whose identity remains unknown, was driving a hybrid Honda Fit with temporary foreign registration plates. The vehicle had reportedly just been imported from Tanzania via Zambia. Upon realizing the car had run out of fuel, the motorist left it in no-man's land on the bridge and rushed to Victoria Falls town to purchase fuel.

His absence lasted about 30 minutes, during which frustrated drivers and vendors near the borders attempted to clear the bridge. Efforts to push the car proved futile, as the hybrid vehicle's security systems made movement impossible without ignition. Attempts to lift the car to the side of the bridge or tow it away also failed, exacerbating the congestion.

The driver's return with a fuel container was met with anger from the crowd, including Emerged Railways Property manager Logan Nyasulu. "How can you do this? Why would you leave your vehicle blocking the bridge? This car will not be cleared at the border before you pay for this," Nyasulu told the driver.

In his defense, the motorist blamed the situation on insufficient fuel provided by the vehicle's handlers in Tanzania. "The challenge is that the person who had gone to pick it up from Tanzania did not top up fuel. I think it had nothing when I received it. This is what happens sometimes when you import vehicles from Tanzania," he explained.

After refueling, the driver was allowed to proceed toward the Zimbabwean side of the border, but not before being warned that he would face charges for blocking the bridge.

The Victoria Falls Bridge, which connects Zimbabwe and Zambia, is a vital link for both commercial and passenger vehicles. With its single-lane design, any disruption can cause significant delays. This incident highlights the importance of proper planning and preparedness, especially for motorists driving newly imported vehicles across such critical routes.

While traffic eventually resumed, the episode served as a reminder of the logistical challenges faced by importers and the frustration caused by unplanned disruptions on shared infrastructure.