Commuter omnibus explosion kills 18 on Zimbabwe highway

President Mnangagwa declared a state of disaster after all passengers died in a fire near Gwanda.

At least 18 people died when a commuter omnibus caught fire and exploded along the Bulawayo-Beitbridge Highway on Thursday afternoon, the Zimbabwe Republic Police confirmed.¹² The incident occurred between Chipangali and the Gwanda tollgate between 1300 and 1400 hours.¹²

President Emmerson Mnangagwa declared a state of disaster following the accident.⁴ All passengers aboard the vehicle perished, according to Local Government Minister Daniel Garwe, who visited the scene.⁴ The minister said some bodies had been identified while others were burnt beyond recognition.⁴

Garwe said the vehicle was carrying mourners returning from a funeral in Nkayi.⁴ The exact number of passengers on board at the time of the incident remains unclear.¹

The cause of the fire and explosion is not yet known.¹³ Garwe said police and other security agents were investigating.⁴ "The cause of the accident is not yet known, but we are so saddened as Zimbabweans and the government," he said.⁴

Authorities indicated that further details surrounding the tragedy would be released as investigations continue.¹³ Garwe conveyed condolences from Mnangagwa to the bereaved families.⁴

The Bulawayo-Beitbridge Road is one of Zimbabwe's busiest highways, linking the country to South Africa.¹³ The road has recorded numerous fatal accidents over the years.¹³ Preliminary reports indicate the commuter omnibus was engulfed in flames, leaving no survivors in one of the deadliest road accidents in recent months.⁴