Section on Bulawayo-Harare road closed

Authorities on Monday issued stern warnings to residents and motorists near Mahatshula suburb in Bulawayo following a potentially dangerous incident in which a petrol tanker carrying 40 000 litres of fuel overturned, raising fears of a possible explosion.

The tanker, which was travelling from Harare, overturned about 15 kilometres from the Bulawayo central business district, prompting an emergency response from multiple agencies.

Speaking from the scene, the Director for Bulawayo Metropolitan in the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works and chairperson of the city's Civil Protection Committee, Mrs Tsvagai Fikile Marovatsanga, said the recovery operation is extremely hazardous and requires specialised handling.

"We have a tanker that was coming from Harare which overturned about 15 kilometres from the CBD," said Mrs Marovatsanga. "We are mobilising all the necessary resources to get it upright safely so that it does not explode."

She confirmed that a multidisciplinary team has been deployed to manage the situation, including officials from the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA), the Environmental Management Agency (EMA), the Bulawayo Fire Brigade and engineers responsible for overseeing the technical aspects of the operation.

Mrs Marovatsanga warned that the tanker poses a serious threat to nearby communities due to the volatility of its cargo.

"It is very unsafe. If the truck shakes or shifts, it could trigger an explosion. That is why we are taking every precaution, with engineers supervising the decanting and recovery process to minimise risk," she said.

Authorities have moved swiftly to alert residents in surrounding areas, urging them to keep their distance from the crash site.

"We have engaged local leadership to ensure residents are informed and remain at a safe distance," Mrs Marovatsanga said.

She appealed to the public to cooperate with emergency services and avoid the area until the tanker is fully secured and the risk eliminated.

Emergency teams remain on high alert as recovery operations continue, with safety being prioritised to prevent loss of life, property damage or environmental harm.