The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has released shocking statistics regarding road traffic accidents for the 2025 festive season. The figures, covering the period from December 15th to December 26th, 2025, reveal a grim picture on the country’s roads, with the total number of accidents nearly doubling compared to the same period in 2024.
Commissioner Paul Nyathi, Chief Staff Officer (Press and Public Relations), confirmed that 100 people have lost their lives in just 12 days, a significant rise from the 77 deaths recorded last year.
The Grim Statistics: 2024 vs. 2025
The data shows a worrying upward trend in road carnage. The total number of recorded accidents skyrocketed from 1,211 in 2024 to 2,412 in 2025.
Here is the breakdown of the statistics for the period (15th – 26th Dec):
| Category | 2024 | 2025 | Trend |
| Total Road Accidents | 1,211 | 2,412 | 🔺 99% Increase |
| Fatal Accidents | 65 | 87 | 🔺 Increase |
| People Killed | 77 | 100 | 🔺 Increase |
| People Injured | 401 | 471 | 🔺 Increase |
Who is Dying on Our Roads?
An analysis of the 100 fatalities reveals that passengers and pedestrians are the most vulnerable groups.
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Passengers: 44 deaths (The highest casualty group)
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Pedestrians: 37 deaths
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Drivers: 10 deaths
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Riders/Cyclists: 7 deaths
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Scotch Carts: 2 deaths
The Horror of the Honda Fit Crash
The report highlighted the most serious accident of the period, which occurred on December 17, 2025, at the 185km peg along the Harare-Nyamapanda Road near Suswe.
In a tragic display of overloading, a Honda Fit carrying 10 occupants collided head-on with a haulage truck. All 10 occupants in the Honda Fit died. This incident underlines the extreme dangers of overloading small vehicles, a practice that continues to plague Zimbabwean highways.
Primary Causes of Accidents
The ZRP identified several recurring factors contributing to this surge in accidents:
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Human Error: The majority of head-on collisions were caused by drivers encroaching onto oncoming lanes and engaging in dangerous overtaking maneuvers.
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Excessive Speeding: Drivers are losing control of vehicles, particularly during early mornings and at night.
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Tyre Bursts & Maintenance: A significant number of accidents, especially those involving public service vehicles like Toyota Hiace kombis, were attributed to tyre bursts. The police noted the use of worn-out or substandard tyres and a lack of routine vehicle inspections.
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Pedestrian Negligence: The police noted a disturbing trend of pedestrians being struck while walking on the road with earphones plugged in, distracted by music.
Police Warning
Commissioner Nyathi urged motorists to exercise extreme caution as the New Year holiday approaches. While no major accidents involving large public service buses were recorded, the high number of deaths from private vehicles and smaller public transport (kombis) remains a critical concern.
“We call on drivers to act responsibly and be exemplary on the roads to safeguard lives.” — Commissioner P. Nyathi
Call to Action:
As we approach New Year’s Eve, please check your tyres, avoid overloading, and stay alert. If you are a pedestrian, keep the headphones off while on the road.
