BULAWAYO – At least 30 people were killed during the 2026 Easter holiday, an increase from 24 deaths recorded in the same period last year, despite an overall decline in road traffic accidents, police said.
Police statistics show that 337 accidents were recorded during the holiday, down from 384 in 2025. However, fatal crashes rose slightly from 21 to 22, while the death toll jumped by six.
At least 104 people were injured, a significant drop from 178 recorded during the 2025 Easter period.
Police said pedestrians accounted for the majority of fatalities, with 19 deaths about 63 percent of the total.
Passengers made up the second highest number with seven deaths, while three drivers and one rider were also killed.
“Speeding was identified as the leading cause of most road traffic accidents, with motorists losing control of their vehicles and overturning,” police said. “Unsafe overtaking also contributed to head-on collisions.”
One of the deadliest incidents occurred on April 2 along the Harare–Masvingo Road, where six family members died after a Toyota Corolla collided head-on with a truck at the 246km peg.
In another crash on April 3, seven people were killed and four others injured at the 51km peg along the Bulawayo–Beitbridge Road when a truck rammed into three vehicles a Nissan March, Toyota Probox and Toyota Hiace before striking pedestrians who had gathered at the scene of an earlier accident.
Police said no major accidents involving public service vehicles were recorded during the period.
Authorities have repeatedly warned motorists against speeding and reckless driving, particularly during public holidays when traffic volumes surge.
The post 30 killed in Easter road carnage – 19 of them pedestrians appeared first on Zimbabwe News Now.