Online Reporter
Freeman Razemba
Senior Reporter
At least 18 people died while 51 others were injured in 145 road traffic accidents that were recorded during the Heroes and Defence Forces holidays.
Of the 145 road traffic accidents, 13 of them were fatal.
Last year, 24 people were killed while 96 others were injured in 196 road traffic accidents recorded.
In a statement, national police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi said there was a notable decline in road traffic crashes this year.
“The road traffic accident statistics recorded during the 2026 Heroes and Defence Forces Holidays indicate a notable decline in road traffic accidents compared to the corresponding period in 2025. The decline coincided with intensified road safety awareness campaigns conducted by the Zimbabwe Republic Police and other stakeholders. A total of 145 road traffic accidents were recorded in 2026, compared with 196 during the same period in 2025.
” This represents a decrease of 51 accidents or approximately 26 percent. The number of fatal road traffic accidents remained unchanged at 13 in both 2025 and 2026. However, the number of people killed declined from 24 in 2025 to 18 in 2026, representing a reduction of six deaths, which is 25 percent,” he said.
Comm Nyathi said a notable decline in the number of people injured was also recorded with the number decreasing from 96 in 2025 to 51 in 2026, representing a reduction of 45 people, approximately 46.9 percent.
“Of the 18 fatalities recorded, none involved public service vehicles. Nine involved private or family-owned vehicles, while the remaining eight involved three lorries, two ox-drawn scotch carts, a tractor and a motorcycle. The major causes of road traffic accidents recorded during the period were largely linked to human error and unsafe driving behaviour.
“These included driver inattention or misjudgement, speeding, following too closely, dangerous overtaking, failure to give way and reckless or negligent driving. Other contributing factors included driver fatigue, vehicle defects, poor road conditions and pedestrian negligence,” Comm Nyathi said.
He said speeding and reckless driving were particularly major causes in fatal road traffic accidents recorded during the period.
” One of the fatal road traffic accidents occurred on 11th August 2026 at approximately 1630 hours, at the 279 kilometre peg along the Bulawayo-Victoria Falls Road. A motorist driving a Mazda T35 carrying 29 passengers allegedly lost control of the vehicle, resulting in it veering off the road and crashing into the river bank. Four passengers died on the spot, while 12 others sustained injuries.
“The Zimbabwe Republic Police commends motorists and all other road users for the improved road safety behaviour exhibited during the 2026 Heroes and Defence Forces Holidays. The Police urges motorists to sustain this positive behaviour beyond the holiday period by observing prescribed speed limits, avoiding dangerous overtaking, exercising patience and refraining from driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs,” Comm Nyathi said.
