President Emmerson Mnangagwa has declared the road traffic accident that claimed 12 lives near Kwekwe on Tuesday, 27 May, a national disaster.
This declaration allows the government to assist with the burial of the victims and provide support to those who were injured and hospitalised.
According to the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP), the crash involved a petrol tanker with two trailers, a two-tonne truck, and a Nissan AD Van carrying 12 passengers.
The tanker reportedly collided with the two-tonne truck before crashing head-on into the AD Van, dragging it for several metres before overturning and landing on top of it.
In a message of condolence, President Mnangagwa expressed his sorrow and extended his sympathies to the families who lost their loved ones in the tragic accident. The message reads:
I learnt with a very heavy heart of the horrific traffic collision yesterday in Midlands which claimed twelve innocent lives.
The deadly incident adds yet another grim statistic to the needless toll which reckless driving levies on our people and our Nation.
While I am pleased that the Zimbabwe Republic Police is moving speedily towards a full deployment of high-end technologies for traffic management, and for curbing waywardness on our roads, more still has to be done to arrest the ever-spiraling fatalities we face as a Nation.
The duty for safe traffic conduct squarely falls on all road users, while the responsibility to call out reckless road-users includes the general public who should support our law enforcement agencies to tame what in essence has become a traffic jungle.
My heart goes out to families that have lost their loved ones in this horrific accident. Equally, I wish a speedy recovery to all those nursing injuries from the incident.
I have since directed the responsible arms of my Government to declare this traffic accident a national disaster.
This crucial legal step paves the way for Government to move in and take all-round responsibility for the interment of all those who perished in the accident, and for support to those hospitalised.
May all the bereaved and other affected families find comfort and solace in that our Nation joins and mourns with them in this hour of deep grief and pain.
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