A minibus carrying members of a church to a religious conference collided head-on with a haulage truck in central Zimbabwe on Friday evening, killing 27 people and injuring seven others, police said.
The accident occurred along the Harare–Masvingo Highway near Chivhu, about 130 kilometres south of the capital, Harare.
According to police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi, the truck, which was registered outside Zimbabwe, was overtaking another vehicle when it collided with the minibus. Both vehicles were carrying passengers.
The minibus caught fire following the crash and was completely destroyed. Images and videos shared by Zimbabwean media showed wreckage scattered across the highway, while the truck came to rest on the opposite side of the road.
Police initially reported a lower death toll but later confirmed that 27 people had died. Seven injured passengers were taken to hospital for treatment, while the bodies of the victims were reportedly transported to the mortuary at Chivhu Hospital.
State broadcaster ZBC News reported that some victims died at the scene, while others died from their injuries after being taken to hospital.
Local media said the passengers belonged to an indigenous African Christian denomination and were travelling to attend a religious conference. Police had not immediately disclosed the identity of the church group.
The accident is the latest in a series of deadly road crashes in Zimbabwe. Authorities have frequently cited dangerous driving, overloading and poor road conditions as major factors behind fatal accidents.
Zimbabwe's roads have also suffered from years of underfunding and deterioration, including widespread potholes. Authorities have attributed approximately 94% of road crashes in the country to human error.
In April, at least 18 people were killed when a minibus caught fire on a highway in southern Zimbabwe. Earlier that month, a woman and her five children died after their vehicle collided with a haulage truck on a highway linking Zimbabwe and South Africa.
The latest tragedy also highlights Africa's broader road-safety crisis. The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa estimates that around 300,000 people die in road crashes across the continent every year, representing roughly a quarter of global road deaths despite Africa accounting for only about 3% of the world's vehicles.
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