WATCH as ZIMCHE CEO, Prof Dzvimbo recounts his witness account of Panashe Mwinga’s tragic accident, highlighting that Panashe died on her graduation day. He describes carrying the late Panashe and her injured mother to the hospital. Upon arrival at the accident scene around 8PM, Panashe was still alive, and there was a little baby calling out for his sister.
Prof Dzvimbo then took Panashe to Parirenyatwa Hospital. During this time, Panashe repeatedly said that people should open the window because she was feeling hot. This emotionally powerful witness account sheds light on the immediate aftermath of the accident from his perspective.
The Father and boy were carried by Pastor Debwe, whose full name is Josinias Debwe, sat the Christ Connect Family Church (CCFC), where he serves as a pastor alongside Gracious Debwe.Â
The two men spent hours at Parirenyatwa after they arrived with the accident victims.
Panashe Mwinga tragically died in a road accident just hours after her graduation from Chinhoyi University of Technology (CUT) where she completed a Bachelor’s degree in Visual and Multimedia Communication. The accident occurred on the evening of August 28, 2025, near Mapinga, close to the Gwebi River, as Panashe was traveling back to Harare with her family. Her father, an engineer who had traveled from Matabeleland North to attend the graduation and Zimbabwe Agricultural Show, was driving the vehicle. Also in the car were Panashe’s mother and her eight-year-old brother.
The vehicle veered off the road and overturned, leaving all occupants seriously injured. Panashe was rushed to Parirenyatwa Hospital, where despite medical efforts, she died a few hours after admission. Her parents sustained critical head injuries and remained unconscious, while her younger brother suffered two broken legs. Panashe was reportedly still conscious during the trip to the hospital, asking for the window to be opened because she felt hot. Her body was later transferred to Nyaradzo Funeral Services for funeral arrangements.
The CUT Students Representative Council confirmed the tragedy and declared September 1, 2025, as “Black Monday,” encouraging students to wear black in mourning and solidarity with the family. Panashe’s death is regarded as a profound loss to the university community and highlights the broader crisis of road safety in Zimbabwe, which has one of the highest road traffic fatality rates in Africa due to factors like speeding, unroadworthy vehicles, and poor infrastructure.
This tragic event touched many, as Panashe was seen as a gifted and promising young woman whose bright future was cut short on her special day of academic achievement.
