Easter holiday road carnage claims more pedestrians than passengers – police

By Staff Reporter

At least 30 people killed during the just ended Easter holidays with 19 of them being pedestrians struck by motorists in 104 road traffic accidents recorded during the period, police have reported.

“Out of the 30 people killed, the majority were pedestrians, accounting for 19 deaths, which is approximately 63% of the total,” police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi said in a statement Wednesday.

“Passengers represented the second-largest group, with seven fatalities, roughly 23% of the total. Drivers accounted for only three deaths, which is 10% and one rider was killed, making up just over 3% of the total.”

Of the accidents, seven people died in one fatal incident near at the 51 km peg along the Bulawayo-Beitbridge Road on 3 April 2026 at approximately 2110 hours when a truck rammed into three vehicles, a Nissan March, Toyota Probox and Toyota Hiace (Baby Quantum), which had been involved in an accident earlier.

The truck struck the three vehicles and the pedestrians who had gathered at the scene, resulting in the fatalities.

On the eve of the period under review, six members of a Harare family were killed when a Toyota Corolla vehicle they were travelling in was involved in a head-on collision with a truck at the 246 km peg along the Harare-Masvingo Road.

Commissioner Nyathi said there was an increase this year in he number of fatalities and a decrease in the total number of accidents compared to the same time in the previous year.

“During the 2026 Easter Holiday, a total of 337 road traffic accidents were recorded compared to 384 accidents during the same period in 2025,” he said.

“Of these, 22 were fatal accidents resulting in 30 deaths, compared to 21 fatal accidents in 2025 which claimed 24 lives. The number of injured persons decreased from 178 in 2025 to 104 in 2026.”

No major road traffic accident involving public service vehicles was recorded this year.

During the 2026 Easter Holiday, speeding was identified as the leading cause of the road traffic accidents, with many motorists losing control of their vehicles and overturning. Unsafe overtaking also contributed to head-on collisions recorded during the period.

Nyathi said there were three cases of hit-and-run fatal road traffic accidents which were recorded in Masvingo province over Easter on 4 April.

“The first occurred at around 1.30 am at the 91 km peg along the Masvingo-Beitbridge Road, where an unidentified motorist struck and killed a pedestrian before fleeing the scene.

“The second incident took place near the Roman Catholic Church near Zengeza Business Centre, Renco Mine, where a Volvo abnormal load truck struck a pedestrian and failed to stop. The victim died on the spot.

“The third accident occurred at the 22 km peg along the Masvingo-Copota Road, where another unidentified motorist hit a pedestrian and fled, resulting in the victim’s death,” he said while urging motorists involved in accidents to stop and assist accident victims and further report the cases to the police.

“Motorists are also urged to use reflective warning triangles in the event of breakdowns or accidents, reduce speed and exercise caution when approaching vehicles with hazard lights turned on.

“Above all, motorists are urged to act responsibly, adhere to all road rules and regulations and prioritize the safety of all road users.”