Baby And Pregnant Mother Among 15 Malawians In Killed DRD Bus Crash In Zimbabwe

Fifteen coffins carrying Malawians killed in a bus crash in Zimbabwe were received at Kamuzu Stadium on Monday night, in a scene of grief and mourning.

The Malawi-bound DRD bus crashed at around 1:30 pm on 5 May 2026 at the 175 km peg, according to the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP).

At 7:54 pm on Monday. 11 May, police sirens sounded as a convoy of 15 hearses entered the Kamuzu Stadium under escort.

Mourners wept as police officers lifted the coffins from the hearses, which had travelled from Harare.

Mothers collapsed, children cried, and men who had tried to remain composed broke down.

Among the dead was an eight-month-old baby.

Also killed was Unique Phiri Soko, 46, who was seven months pregnant and travelling home to Malawi to prepare for childbirth. Both she and her unborn child died.

She leaves behind four children, including seven-year-old twins.

“We have lost both the mother and the unborn child,” said her brother-in-law, James Gondwe. “Her husband is devastated.”

Another victim was John Kanyenga, 50, from Thyolo. He had spent four years working in Cape Town to support his family and was returning home to see them.

His elder brother, Gracious Banda, said Kanyenga had been the family’s main source of support. “He was supporting our family, including our elderly mother,” he said.

Representing President Peter Mutharika, Deputy Chief Secretary to Government Stuart Ligomeka described the victims as productive citizens whose lives had been cut short. Most were young.

Wilson Mollen said the victims included six women, five men and four children. Six were from Thyolo, four from Mzimba, two from Mangochi, two from Balaka and one from Mulanje.

Many passengers on the bus were reportedly fleeing xenophobic violence in South Africa targeting foreigners, including Malawians, Zimbabweans and Nigerians.

More: Nyasa Times