8 killed in Mutare-Masvingo road bus crash

Eight people, including the driver, died in the early hours of Saturday when a Dragon bus collided with a haulage truck carrying timber along the Mutare–Masvingo Road.

Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) national spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the accident, which occurred around 2am near Mutendi Complex at the 246-kilometre peg.

"The driver of the Dragon bus, which was carrying 20 passengers from Beitbridge to Mutare, attempted to overtake a haulage truck while there was an oncoming vehicle. Upon noticing the vehicle, the bus driver swerved back to his lane and side-swiped the truck, causing the timber to pierce into the bus," said Nyathi.

He said eight people, including the driver, died on the spot while four others sustained injuries. The bodies were taken to Masvingo General Hospital for post-mortem, with the injured also admitted at the same institution.

Commissioner Nyathi urged motorists to exercise extreme caution, warning against overtaking in unsafe conditions.