Bongani Ndlovu
This is a LIVE blog tracking developments after a tanker carrying 44 000 litres of petrol overturned along the Bulawayo–Harare Road at the 15km peg from the City of Kings on Sunday afternoon. This has forced the closure of the road and placing nearby residents of Mahatshula suburb on high alert due to the danger posed by overhead high-voltage power lines.
Emergency services and Government officials are on the ground as authorities work to contain the situation.
Zimpapers Senior Reporter Sikhumbuzo Moyo is on the scene to give live updates.
What We Know: Bulawayo–Harare road fuel tanker crash
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Sunday January 25, 2026 afternoon: A petrol tanker carrying 40 000 litres of fuel overturned near Mahatshula Bridge, 15km along the Bulawayo–Harare Road.
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Driver: Extricated from the wreckage and taken to United Bulawayo Hospitals. He is in shock with minor scratches.
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Emergency response: Firefighters, ambulance crews, Zimbabwe Republic Police, EMA, and ZERA rushed to the scene.
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Road closure: Authorities closed the road one kilometre on both sides of the crash. Motorists are diverted through Mahatshula suburb.
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Power line danger: High-voltage power lines from Hwange Power Station hover over the site. Officials are considering shutting them down temporarily to reduce explosion risk.
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Safety alerts: Nearby residents and commuters are urged to keep a safe distance. Petrol fumes combined with live power lines pose serious hazards.
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Unknowns:
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Cause of the tanker accident is under investigation.
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Timeline for reopening the road is yet to be confirmed.
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Full assessment of power line and road damage is ongoing.
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UPDATE: Day Two – Tanker decanting operation awaits at Mahatshula in Bulawayo
Monday, 26 January
Day two of the petrol tanker crash along the Bulawayo–Harare Road sees authorities maintaining a heavy presence at the scene as preparations continue for the risky decanting operation.
Officials are led by Mrs Tsvagai Fikile Marovatsanga, Director for Bulawayo Metropolitan in the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works and chairperson of the city’s Civil Protection Committee, along with her deputy, and Officer Commanding Bulawayo Province, Commissioner Jasper Chizema.
The tanker, carrying 40 000 litres of petrol, remains overturned near Mahatshula Bridge, with the road still closed to traffic one kilometre from either side. Emergency crews, including firefighters, ambulance services, EMA, and ZERA, remain on high alert as they prepare for decanting — an operation complicated by high-voltage power lines hovering above the tanker.
Authorities continue to urge nearby residents on Mahatshula suburb and motorists to keep a safe distance while the operation is carefully coordinated to minimise any risk of explosion.
Authorities warn residents to stay away as risky tanker recovery continues
Authorities have issued stern warnings to residents near Mahatshula in Bulawayo after a petrol tanker overturned, carrying 40 000 litres of fuel, raising fears of a possible explosion.
Speaking from the crash scene, Ms Tsvagai Fikile Marovatsanga, Director for Bulawayo Metropolitan in the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works and chairperson of the city’s Civil Protection Committee, said the operation to recover the tanker is extremely hazardous.
“Yes, we have a tanker that was coming from Harare and it overturned about 15 kilometres from the CBD,” Marovatsanga said. “We are trying to mobilize all the necessary resources to get it upright safely so that it doesn’t explode.”
She confirmed that a team of experts has been assembled, including personnel from ZERA, EMA, the Bulawayo Fire Brigade, and engineers tasked with ensuring safety during the decanting operation.
Mrs Marovatsanga warned of the serious risk to nearby residents.
“It is very unsafe. In case the truck shakes, it could trigger an explosion. We are taking every necessary precaution and our engineers are overseeing the process to minimise risk.”
Authorities have already alerted residents in the vicinity. “We called Enoch, who is in charge of this area, and he is alerting the residents to stay safe,” she added.
Traffic remains closed on the Bulawayo–Harare Road, with motorists advised to take alternative routes. Emergency teams continue to monitor the site closely, as the decanting operation is carefully coordinated to prevent any accidents.
Mrs Marovatsanga urged residents to remain at a safe distance until the tanker is secured.
A huge crane has finally arrived as the rescue operation is about to get underway.
Critical staff from the Bulawayo Fire and Ambulance services now remain on site with Chief fire officer Mr Mhlangano Moyo asking everyone to move at least 500m away from the scene
Mahatshula residents relive terrifying moments as fuel tanker overturns
Mahatshula residents have expressed shock at how a 40 000-litre petrol tanker overturned just after the railway flyover yesterday afternoon, triggering panic and a swift response from emergency services in Bulawayo.
In interviews conducted as the Bulawayo Fire Brigade and Ambulance Services led rescue operations at the scene, residents said the driver of the tanker, who is yet to be identified, had initially parked on the other side of the flyover before the accident.
One resident, Mr Hloniphani Nkomo, said the driver was warned that the area was unsafe for parking as it posed a risk of accidents.
“He then started the vehicle and was moving at a very slow speed when, out of nowhere, the truck veered off the road and overturned,” said Mr Nkomo.
Another resident, Mr George Ncube, said he first became aware of the incident after noticing a strong smell of petrol some distance away from the scene.
“I was disturbed by the smell of fuel, which could be sensed about 300 metres away. When I asked what was happening, I was told that a fuel tanker had overturned,” said Mr Ncube.
He added that when he arrived at the scene, fuel was already leaking from the tanker, raising fears of a possible explosion.
“There was fuel coming out from the tank breather, and I just prayed that there would be no explosion. Within minutes, two fire tenders, followed by an ambulance, arrived at the scene,” he said.
Emergency services moved swiftly to secure the area as authorities warned members of the public to stay away while efforts to stabilise the tanker continued.
Mahatshula fuel tanker crash: quick-thinking driver averts disaster
DANGER was narrowly avoided on Monday evening near Mahatshula, some 15km from Bulawayo, when a 40 000-litre fuel tanker veered off the road after the driver took evasive action to avoid a head-on collision. Emergency services are currently decanting the fuel safely.
Bulawayo Chief Fire Officer, Mr Mhlangano Moyo, who was at the scene along the Bulawayo–Harare highway, said the driver’s actions prevented what could have been a major catastrophe.
“The driver was engaging in defensive driving as he approached the bridge and noticed an oncoming truck. To avoid a head-on collision, he swerved to the left. Unfortunately, due to heavy rains, the truck slid into a ditch,” said Mr Moyo.
“Considering the load, a head-on collision involving more than 40 000 litres of petrol could have resulted in a major disaster.”
Emergency teams managed to extricate the driver, who sustained minor injuries, and rushed him to United Bulawayo Hospitals. Mr Moyo said their priority was to save life before containing the fuel spill.
“After rescuing the driver, we sealed a leak in one of the tanks, which posed a serious danger and could have contaminated the entire area,” he said.
Mr Moyo said part of the road was closed and residents warned as crews worked to contain the fuel.
“We successfully sealed the leak and mobilised other stakeholders, including ZERA. A crane was secured to raise the truck from the ditch. So far, the situation is under control. Although we lost about 3 000 to 4 000 litres from the 40 000-litre load, the spill was successfully contained. We carried out damming and treated the fuel with assistance from the EMA team,” said Mr Moyo.
DAY THREE: Harare road closed for major rescue exercise
Police have sealed off a portion of the Bulawayo Harare road to pave way for a potentially risky operation by the City’s Fire and Emergency Services department as they clear the accident scene where a fuel tanker overturned and fell into a ditch.
Bulawayo provincial police spokesperson Inspector Nomalanga Msebele urged motorists to corporate with the police and use detours that will have them drive via Mahatshula suburb until the road is reopened for the public.
Chief Fire officer Mhlangano Moyo said his department has so far managed to decant 15 000 litres from the accident scene and said potential for fire racism very high in light of today’s hot temperatures.
Online Reporter