Dump Truck Loses Brakes, Crashes Into Workers at Norton Construction Site
NORTON – A tragic accident unfolded on Monday afternoon in Norton when a dump truck lost its brakes and collided with a group of construction workers at an underground site.
The truck, which was reversing to unload mixed concrete, suffered a mechanical failure and rolled uncontrollably into the workspace, pinning the builders against a wall.
According to The Herald, two workers were rushed to the hospital following the accident.
One of them, whose name has been withheld, was pronounced dead on arrival, while the other, identified as Desire Murasiki, sustained severe head and upper body injuries and was later transferred to Harare Central Hospital for further treatment.
Similar incidents at construction sites in Zimbabwe have raised alarm about safety standards. For instance, the Millennium Towers accident in 1999 remains one of the worst in the country’s history, where 15 workers tragically lost their lives after a hoist carrying them and construction materials plummeted 17 floors.
More recently, in 2025, a crane collapse during dismantling operations at the Mbudzi Interchange in Harare resulted in the death of a construction worker, reportedly due to mechanical failure.
These incidents underscore the urgent need for stricter maintenance protocols and improved safety measures in the construction industry to protect workers’ lives.
No official comment has been made regarding the Norton accident, as investigations are expected to uncover the specific cause of the mechanical failure.
