A devastating road accident on Friday claimed the lives of seven family members, including two children, after a private kombi overturned along the busy Harare–Nyamapanda highway. The vehicle, dangerously overloaded with both passengers and heavy cargo that included bricks and a tombstone, lost control while attempting to overtake another car and rolled over at the 49-kilometre peg.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) confirmed the tragedy in a statement released on X (formerly Twitter), saying the accident highlighted the deadly consequences of reckless driving and overloading. According to the statement, the kombi was carrying 16 family members, a tombstone, and construction materials when disaster struck.
“The ZRP confirms the death of seven family members in a fatal road accident that occurred today at the 49 km peg on the Harare–Nyamapanda Road. Nine people were injured. The kombi was carrying 16 family members, a tombstone and bricks when the driver tried to overtake another motor vehicle and lost control of the kombi. The kombi then overturned, killing five people on the spot while two others died upon admission at a local hospital,” read part of the police statement.
Emergency responders rushed to the scene, ferrying the injured to nearby hospitals. Nine survivors remain under treatment, some with serious injuries. Authorities have since launched investigations into the accident, while urging motorists to desist from overloading vehicles and to exercise extreme caution on the roads.
Among the first on the scene was Budiriro South legislator, Darlington Chigumbu, who happened to be driving past shortly after the accident occurred. Speaking about what he saw, Chigumbu described the wreckage as “a heartbreaking scene” that will stay with him for a long time.
“Today, on my way from Murewa, I witnessed a road accident that broke my heart. A private kombi carrying people, bricks, and tombstones overturned, and five people were killed on the spot. My heart was shattered when I saw two small children lying there, lifeless,” he said.
The MP appealed to road users to act responsibly, reminding citizens that many such tragedies can be avoided through safer driving practices. He also recounted a chilling detail from the scene that quickly captured public attention: the discovery of a dead owl.
“There was a dead owl at the accident scene, and some people had already developed conspiracy theories, saying it had come from one of the passengers’ bag,” Chigumbu revealed.
Seven Family Members Killed as Overloaded Kombi Carrying Tombstones Overturns on Harare–Nyamapanda Road
In Zimbabwean tradition, owls are often associated with bad omens or witchcraft, and speculation around the bird’s presence added an unsettling layer to an already grim tragedy. Bystanders reportedly whispered about the possibility of supernatural links, though police officials have not commented on that angle.
The incident triggered a wave of debate online, where many Zimbabweans expressed outrage at the negligence that contributed to the crash. Social media users condemned the practice of overloading vehicles with both passengers and heavy cargo, calling it a recipe for disaster.
“This is pure carelessness,” one user posted. “Why put children, bricks, and a tombstone in the same kombi? This could have been avoided.”
Others pointed to broader issues in the country’s road safety environment, particularly poor road conditions and limited enforcement of traffic laws. With long stretches of highways riddled with potholes, combined with the economic challenges that push many families to use private, unregulated transport, such tragedies have become an all-too-familiar occurrence.
At the same time, some online commentators reacted with dark humour, making jokes about the owl discovered at the scene. Others invoked traditional beliefs, linking the bird to the family’s ill-fated journey. While some dismissed these theories as superstition, others noted how cultural narratives often provide communities with a way to process grief.
Friday’s crash is one of several deadly road accidents recorded in Zimbabwe in recent months, underscoring persistent challenges in road safety enforcement. With private kombis often operating outside formal regulation, drivers frequently overload their vehicles to maximise profit or meet family obligations, putting lives at risk.
The ZRP has repeatedly urged passengers not to board overloaded vehicles and has warned drivers against carrying both people and goods in unsafe combinations. However, in rural and peri-urban areas where transport options are limited, families often find themselves with little choice but to travel under such hazardous conditions.
As the families of the deceased begin mourning their loved ones, the tragedy has once again brought home the human cost of unsafe road practices. For Chigumbu and many who witnessed the scene, the memory of two children lying lifeless among the rubble of bricks and twisted metal is a painful reminder of what is at stake.
The government, road safety campaigners, and citizens alike are now grappling with how to prevent similar disasters. For now, seven lives have been lost—two of them young children—with nine others left nursing injuries, in an accident that might have been avoided had safety rules been observed.
Source-iHarare
