Harare (Lamaane.net) - The National Railways of Zimbabwe confirmed that nine people, including two children, were killed after a passenger bus collided with a goods train at a railway crossing in Chiredzi district, southern Zimbabwe, on Tuesday, leaving 25 others injured and prompting renewed scrutiny of road and rail safety.
The collision occurred on Mbizi Road near Triangle in Chiredzi district when a Makuku Bus traveling from Chikombedzi to Masvingo entered a railway crossing as a goods train approached. According to a statement issued by National Railways of Zimbabwe spokesperson Andrew Kanambura, the bus driver failed to stop and check for an oncoming train before crossing the tracks, breaching established railway safety regulations.
Zimbabwe Republic Police spokesperson Paul Nyathi said the victims included seven adults and two children. The 25 injured passengers were transported to a nearby hospital, where they received medical treatment. Authorities did not immediately release the identities of those killed or provide an update on the condition of those hospitalized.
Emergency personnel, police officers, and railway officials responded to the crash site shortly after the collision. Wreckage from the heavily damaged bus remained scattered near the railway crossing as investigators documented the scene. Traffic in the area was temporarily disrupted as rescue teams assisted survivors and cleared debris from the crossing.
"The collision occurred on Mbizi Road in Triangle, Chiredzi district, when a Makuku Bus travelling from Chikombedzi to Masvingo drove onto the crossing in the path of an oncoming goods train," Kanambura said in the official statement. He added that preliminary findings indicated the driver did not comply with mandatory railway crossing procedures.
Nyathi confirmed that police had opened an investigation into the incident to establish the full circumstances surrounding the crash. Officials have not announced whether criminal charges or additional enforcement measures will follow pending the outcome of the inquiry.
The fatal collision comes less than a week after another serious road tragedy in central Zimbabwe, where a minibus carrying schoolchildren caught fire, killing seven people. The succession of deadly transport incidents has renewed public attention on vehicle safety standards, driver compliance with traffic regulations, and emergency preparedness across the country's transport network.
Transport safety experts have long identified railway crossings, particularly those without advanced warning systems or barriers, as areas requiring strict adherence to safety procedures. Officials continue to urge motorists to stop, observe approaching rail traffic, and cross tracks only when it is safe to do so.
A transport official, speaking to Lamaane News Network after the crash, said investigators would examine driver actions, crossing conditions, and operational records as part of the inquiry. Authorities said further information would be released after the investigation progresses.
