At least eight Roman Catholic church members were killed on Saturday morning after a kombi carrying worshippers from an all-night prayer gathering plunged off Deka Bridge along Deka Road in Hwange, police said.
By Advent Shoko
The fatal crash, which happened at around 7AM, has once again thrown the spotlight on Zimbabwe’s worsening road safety crisis, particularly involving long-distance travel after overnight religious gatherings.
In a brief statement, the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) confirmed the tragedy and said the vehicle had 13 occupants at the time of the accident.
“Breaking: The ZRP reports a fatal road traffic accident at Deka Bridge along Deka Road, Hwange. Eight Roman Catholic members died when their kombi plunged into the bridge as they were coming from night prayers. The accident occurred on 23/05/26 at 0700 hours. The vehicle had 13 occupants. More details to be released soon,” police said.
Authorities had not yet released the identities of the victims by Saturday afternoon, while the condition of the survivors also remained unclear.
Witnesses in the area described scenes of panic and heartbreak shortly after the crash, with local residents rushing to the scene in an attempt to assist survivors before emergency services arrived.
Although investigators are still working to establish the exact cause of the accident, road safety experts say driver fatigue, poor visibility in the early morning hours, speeding, and the condition of some rural roads continue to contribute to deadly crashes across the country.
Religious pilgrimages and overnight prayer gatherings are common in Zimbabwe, with many congregants travelling long distances by buses, trucks, and kombis during the night before returning home at dawn. Safety campaigners have repeatedly warned transport operators and churches against fatigued driving after overnight events.
The accident at Deka Bridge has also renewed concerns over bridge safety and road infrastructure in remote parts of the country, where narrow roads, damaged barriers, and limited lighting often increase the risk of serious accidents.
Hwange and surrounding routes have recorded several fatal crashes in recent years, with motorists frequently raising concerns over road maintenance and dangerous driving conditions.
Police said more details would be released as investigations continue.
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