Six people were killed and six others were injured when a commuter omnibus veered off the road and entered a water-filled gully in Harare on Wednesday night, the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) confirmed in a statement. The incident took place at approximately 10 p.m. along the Harare-Bulawayo Road, near the nine-kilometer marker.
In a formal statement issued on Thursday, the ZRP provided details of the single-vehicle crash. The vehicle, a commuter omnibus locally referred to as a “kombi,” was traveling along the major highway when it left the roadway and plunged into what police described as a deep, concrete-lined gully containing water.
The ZRP confirmed the number of casualties at the scene. The six individuals who died have not yet been publicly identified pending notification of their families.
Emergency responders were dispatched to the location, near the Harare Drive junction. The six injured passengers were transported to a local hospital to receive medical treatment. Official reports have not provided details on the extent of their injuries.
Authorities have stated that an investigation into the circumstances of the crash is now underway. Standard procedures typically involve examining the vehicle for mechanical faults and interviewing any available witnesses. The ZRP has not released any preliminary findings or information regarding the potential cause of the vehicle leaving the road.
The Harare-Bulawayo Road serves as a primary transportation route in Zimbabwe. Commuter omnibuses are a widely used form of public transit for travel within and between the country’s cities. Officials have indicated that more information will be made available as their investigation progresses.
