Zimbabwe minibus carrying church members crashes, killing at least 27

By AFP and AP. Published On 29 Aug 202629 Aug 2026.

Key points

• At least 27 individuals have been killed after a minibus carrying members of a church collided head-on with a haulage truck in central Zimbabwe, police say.
• The incident is the latest in a string of deadly crashes on Zimbabwe's roads.
• For everyday transport, plenty of Zimbabweans rely on the privately run minibus taxis, known locally as kombi, but they are often criticised for overloading.
• The truck was trying to overtake another vehicle when it crashed with the minibus taxi.
• Footage shared on social media by ZBC indicated the mangled minibus charred to a shell, with the truck on the opposite side of the road.

For context, the crash happened at regarding 18: 30 GMT on Friday near Chivhu, concerning 140km (87 miles) south of the capital, Harare, police spokesperson Paul Nyathi noted on Saturday.

For context, the truck was trying to overtake another vehicle when it crashed with the minibus taxi. It was carrying members of a popular African Christian denomination who were travelling for a conference, he remarked.

While others succumbed to their injuries after being admitted to a local hospital, state-run broadcaster ZBC News, quoting a provincial administration minister, stated 23 individuals died at the scene.

For context, the crash occurred in a flat, remote stretch of road, with low vegetation lining the roadside and open terrain beyond.

Meanwhile, the incident is the latest in a string of deadly crashes on Zimbabwe's roads. It are riddled with potholes after years of underfunding and neglect.

While earlier that month a woman and her five children died when their vehicle collided with a haulage truck on another highway linking Zimbabwe and South Africa, in April, at least 18 individuals were killed when a minibus burst into flames on a highway in the south.

For now, zimbabwe minibus carrying church members crashes, killing at least 27 remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.