were ferrying fruits with to Harare overturned at Chitombo Primary School on Thursday night.
The truck, which belongs to a non-governmental organisation – Pump Aid – had 20 passengers on board.
Those who died were trapped by sacks containing the fruits.
Officer commanding Nyanga (crime), Superintendent Tobias Mubika, confirmed the accident.
He said the bodies were taken to Hauna District Hospital. The injured passengers were also admitted at the same hospital.
Police are yet to release the names of the seven victims as their next of kin were still to be informed.
The accident came barely a day after a kombi crashed into a haulage truck at the intersection of Samora Machel and Bishop Gaul avenues in Harare on Wednesday killing seven people.
“The truck was coming from Samutete area carrying farmers ferrying their produce to the market in Harare. The vehicle veered off the road to avoid a head-on collision with an oncoming haulage truck that had encroached into its lane. The truck was carrying 20 people including the driver, who survived. All the seven people who died were sitting on top of their produce and were thrown out when the vehicle overturned.”
He said the farmers were trapped by the fruits, which included bananas and avocado-pears.
“The injured suffered moderate injuries, save for one passenger who had to be transferred to Mutare Provincial Hospital after sustaining head injuries,” Supt Mubika said.
He said police were keen to interview the driver of the haulage truck, who did not stop at the scene of the accident.
“The identity of the haulage truck is still unknown, but we are picking up leads.
“We want to urge farmers not to risk their lives by travelling on top of vehicles loaded with their produce. They should look for alternative transport,” he said.
The Mutasa Civil Protection Unit donated coffins for the victims.
Mutasa district CPU chairman, who is also the District Administra-tor, Mr Zebedee Dhliwayo visited the accident scene and the injured at Mutasa District Hospital.
He said the donation was aimed at lessening the burden of the affected families.
“We decided to chip in with the coffins because this is a serious accident, which requires the intervention of the CPU.
“The owners of the truck that was ferrying the farmers have agreed to provide food for the mourners, blankets as well as transport,” he said.

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