Moffat Mungazi Post Reporter MANICALAND early last week memorialised one of the darkest days in its history – the fatal road traffic accident that occurred in Nyanga on August 3, 1991 in which 89 people perished on the spot. 83 of the passengers were learners at Regina Coeli Mission, while five where staff members. An expatriate teacher, Ms Will Stegman – who had just got married – did not make it out of the crash. The driver also died in the accident. A trio – Messrs Moses Dudzai Nyamugunduru and Ignatius Bukuta as well as Ms Sheila Doto – survived the horror crash on the fateful night and over two decades later in 2014 recounted the heart-wrenching incident. The fatal accident occurred on a bend just 20km away from the school as the bus – carrying the team from a sporting event at St Killian’s Mission near Rusape – veered off the road and plunged into an escarpment before overturning. The bus – which was speeding as the daredevil demon behind its wheel was under the influence of alcohol and had adamantly turned a deaf ear to repeated pleas for him to slow down – had its roof ripped off and dragged the passengers under it. It had also developed brake failure. So gloomy was the carnage that the accident came to be known as the Nyanga Bus Disaster, whose grim shadow still looms large in the nation’s collectively scarred, but healing heart. Almost three-and-a-half decades on, this sombre occasion to this day serves as a stark reminder of the devastating impact and profound consequences of road traffic accidents on individuals and communities. The doom and gloom of a gory body count Manicaland, and indeed Zimbabwe, continues grappling with the prevalence of road traffic accidents that that are occurring with the regularity of biting cold nights during the winter season. As the Grim Reaper preys on the province and the entire country, lives are being cut short; some in their prime. Some survivors have sustained injuries as death’s insatiable voracity to suck life out of people strikes with bloodcurdling gravity. Journeys are being disrupted, as mortuaries and hospitals end up being the destinations for others. In a statement, the Zimbabwe Republic Police reported a sharp increase in road traffic accidents during the 2025 Heroes and Defence Forces holidays, with 196 crashes recorded nationwide. This represents a rise from the previous year. The accidents, primarily caused by reckless driving, mechanical faults, speeding, and overtaking errors, resulted in 24 deaths and 96 injuries. This is up from 16 fatalities and 77 injuries in 2024. Provincial statistics were not available at the time of reporting, as police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi was unreachable for a comment. A sombre mood engulfed Nyanga after three family members perished in a horrific road accident during the Heroes holiday while travelling to their rural home to pay their respects to their departed loved ones by erecting tombstones. The victims – Maud Gweshe (60), Nenyasha Zengeni (five), and Jane Katerere (58) – were travelling to Ruwangwe, when the Isuzu KB single cab vehicle they were in, carrying seven passengers and the driver, was involved in an accident, and died on the spot. All the victims who died on the spot were related, and all from Chief Katerere’s area. That doom spelt gloom for Manicaland, plunging the province into mourning the departed souls. Grave human errors Acting Manicaland provincial police spokesperson, Assistant Inspector Wiseman Chinyoka, deplored the loss of lives on the accidents, describing it as both bad and sad. “In June, five fatal road traffic accidents were recorded in Manicaland. The crashes claimed the lives of 10 people, while others were injured. The most fatal of those occurred in Headlands where six people died on the spot. The other three crashes killed one person each,” said Assistant Inspector Chinyoka. He attributed the cause of two of the four accidents to human error, highlighting that they could have been avoided. “The fatal crash that killed six people in Headlands and another in which one death was recorded near 22 Miles were caused by human errors as they involved cars encroaching onto the opposite lanes of oncoming vehicles. These accidents could have been avoided if the drivers had exercised due diligence,” he said. Assistant Inspector Chinyoka called on motorists and other road users to exercise caution at all times. He also urged drivers to ensure that their vehicles are always roadworthy. “We urge drivers to always prioritise safety and strictly adhere to rules and regulations governing safe road usage. Motorists must desist from dangerous driving to prevent avoidable tragedies resulting in regrettable loss of lives,” said Assistant Inspector Chinyoka. Assistant Inspector Chinyoka said the police will continue enforcing road rules as well as work in collaboration with other authorities and stakeholders to tame the traffic jungle that threatens to turn our roads and highways into death traps. Shared concern, collective responsibility Driven by national interests and in studious service to the country, leading integrated media company, Zimpapers, recently hosted the National Road Safety Indaba in Harare, bringing together diverse stakeholders from Government officials and law enforcement agents to transport operators and community representatives all of whom shared the common goal of tackling the pressing issue of road safety. The ultimate aim was to come up with efficient and effective ways of preventing and reducing road traffic accidents to save lives as well as public infrastructure. It emerged during the session that between January and June 2024, a total of 25 968 road traffic accidents were recorded; compared to 28 158 this year. A total of 1 037 people were killed in crashes during the same period last year, compared to 1 088 deaths recorded in 2025. Analyses of the road traffic accident statistics reflect a steady increase in the number of crashes as they have become more deadly – largely as a result of speeding – the conference heard. This is alarming and regrettable. Flagrant disregard of the rules and regulations that govern road safety is a highway to perdition that leads to the inevitable end – carnage. Besides human errors, speeding and overloading are some of the major factors contributing to crashes. Yes, speeding thrills, but it may also kill. With some of our highways turning into disaster scenes, collective choruses calling for vigilance on the roads continue growing by the day. Preventing road traffic accidents has become a shared concern and collective responsibility. As such, it is better to get late than become the late, and motorists must always drive to arrive alive. Public transport operators have also underscored the collective responsibility of preventing carnage. Zimbabwe Passengers Transport Organisation national chairman, Mr Samson Nhanhanga voiced concern over some drivers’ recklessness. “There are several issues that need to be addressed for a redress on this matter. Chief among these is raising awareness about road traffic accidents prevention. Some drivers’ reckless character and attitude behind the wheel is just a recipe for disaster. The Highway Code also needs updating so that it speaks to the modern trends in traffic as some of these latest vehicles are powerful beasts,” said Mr Nhanhanga. He challenged the media to also play a critical role in sensitising the public on road crashes prevention at all levels of communities. “I also suggest that breathalysers should be introduced at every tollgate, and there is also need for police to maintain their presence on highways or patrol them while using speed traps. Motorists must simply respect the sanctity of life by not taking dangerous substances when behind the wheel because this will make them a dangerous missile on the roads. The media also needs to play a huge role by raising awareness on accidents prevention,” said Mr Nhanhanga. Promoting traffic safety Every road user must always think safety first. The Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe (TSCZ) has said it will continue encouraging the upholding of this priority by promoting road safety through education, training, research and publicity. TSCZ media and corporate communications officer, Mrs Lucy Kuwandira Mapfumo said the high incidence of road traffic accidents is worrisome. She chastised recklessness by some motorists. “The majority of road crashes in Zimbabwe is caused by human error, which takes form in reckless driving that manifests itself through drunk driving, cellphone use while driving, speeding, overloading and failure to adhere to traffic laws. Around 2 000 people die in road crashes every year in our country. That is approximately 167 fatalities a month and this number can make up a village; which makes it tragic to lose lives this way,” said Mrs Mapfumo. She called for behavioural change and accountability among all road users, adding that even passengers have a part to play by not distracting those behind the wheel. Mrs Mapfumo said drivers shoulder the huge responsibility of ensuring that their vehicles are fit to be on the road as well as doing all the necessary pre-checks and planning journeys to avoid schedule delays that may result in speeding. She emphasised that TSCZ is continuing collaborating with other stakeholders like the police and Vehicle Inspection Department to promote traffic safety and prevention of road accidents.