UPDATE: Four Killed, Several Injured as Munhenzva Bus Overturns Near Rutenga

UPDATE: Four Killed, Several Injured as Munhenzva Bus Overturns Near Rutenga – Four people died and several others were injured when a Munhenzva cross-border bus travelling from Harare to Cape Town overturned along the Masvingo–Beitbridge Road near Rutenga Growth Point on Sunday.

The Zimbabwe Republic Police confirmed the fatal accident in a statement posted on X.

“The ZRP reports a fatal road traffic accident involving a Munenzva bus travelling from Harare to Cape Town, which occurred at the 155 km peg along Masvingo–Beitbridge Road today at around 1720 hours. More details will be released in due course,” police said.

The accident occurred about 10km from Rutenga, near Chinyu Primary School, after the driver reportedly applied emergency brakes to avoid hitting an unknown object, causing the bus to overturn.

Masvingo provincial police spokesperson Inspector Kudakwashe Dhewa said officers were still gathering details, as heavy rains initially hindered rescue efforts.

“It is true that a Munhenzva bus has been involved in an accident and our officers are at the scene, but rescue efforts are being affected by heavy rains that are falling,” he said.

“Rescue teams are at the scene; we will only be able to establish if there are fatalities and the number of injured once they have lifted the bus that overturned.”

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Authorities later confirmed that four passengers died in the crash.

Mwenezi Rural District Council Chief Executive Mr Albert Chivanga also confirmed the tragedy.

“Preliminary reports indicate that the driver of the SA-bound Munhenzva bus applied emergency brakes while trying to avoid hitting an unknown object he had seen; the bus then overturned,” he said.

“The number of people injured and those who might have died is still unknown, as some people were initially trapped under the bus.”

The injured passengers were ferried to Neshuro District Hospital for treatment, while investigations into the cause of the accident are ongoing.