Zimbabwe declares disaster after Chivhu church crash kills 27

Zimbabwe has officially declared a State of Disaster following a devastating head-on collision near Chivhu, which tragically claimed the lives of 27 people and left seven others critically injured. President Emmerson Mnangagwa activated the Civil Protection Act to mobilize resources for those affected by the incident. The collision occurred on Friday night on the Harare-Masvingo highway, near Honeyspruit Bridge in Chikomba district, Mashonaland East province.

Preliminary investigations suggest the foreign-registered haulage truck was attempting to overtake another vehicle when it crashed head-on into the church minibus. The minibus, carrying members of the African Apostolic Church (also known as the Mwazha church) from Dema to Ndarikure for a religious conference, was completely engulfed in flames, complicating rescue efforts and causing several victims to suffer severe burns.

The truck was transporting mining equipment from South Africa to Goromonzi. President Mnangagwa has authorized the government to provide medical and burial assistance to the survivors and their families. Authorities are still working to identify the deceased, as some bodies were severely burned, and forensic DNA testing will be required for a few cases.

The government's disaster response includes post-mortem examinations and liaising with families before bodies are released for burial. This disaster has raised concerns about Zimbabwe's road safety record, as fatal crashes involving buses, commuter minibuses, and heavy trucks are unfortunately common on inter-city highways.