HARARE – More than 30 members of Zion Christian Church have been killed in Chimanimani, eastern Zimbabwe after the bus taking them to an Easter church meeting left the road and plunged into a ravine.
The Zion Christian Church (ZCC) is one of the oldest and largest independent churches in Zimbabwe.
According to the first investigations of the police, the bus was overloaded.
They were apparently on their way from the mountain village of Chimanimani to a meeting in Masvingo when their bus fell into a ravine late last night.
29 passengers died instantly; six others died after being rushed to a hospital in the eastern town of Chipinge while scores of others were injured.
Police spokesman Paul Nyathi told state media that the bus was overloaded.
Traffic fatalities are a tragic feature of Zimbabwe’s increasingly congested roads.
Figures released earlier this year indicate that 50% of fatal accidents here involve buses.
Meanwhile, President Emmerson Mnangagwa expressed grief over the incident which has since been declared a National Disaster.
“I regret to inform the nation that 35 souls perished in a tragic road accident near Chimanimani last night. The victims were members of Zion Christian Church, travelling to attend Easter services. Zimbabwe is heartbroken. Please keep families of those affected in your prayers. Stay safe this weekend. May God bless every single Zimbabwean.”
