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Bongani Ndlovu, Online Reporter

PRESIDENT Mnangagwa has declared the Beitbridge accident, which claimed 24 lives on Thursday morning, a National Disaster, as he paid his condolences to the families of the deceased.

Zimbabwe awoke to the tragic news that 24 people had died following a head-on collision between an Urban Connect bus and an Auro Transport haulage truck at Lutumba tollgate, about 25 km out of Beitbridge Town.

The horrific accident occurred at around 7am along the Beitbridge- Masvingo highway. Seventeen people died on the spot, while seven others died upon admission to the Beitbridge District Hospital.

In a statement on Thursday evening, President Mnangagwa, expressed his deepest and heartfelt condolences, saying Government would assist the victims with a state-assisted burial.

“Government has therefore declared this incident a National Disaster and will accord the victims of this horrendous crash a State-assisted burial. As I express my deepest, heartfelt condolences to the families and relatives who have lost their loved ones in this horrific crash, I also prayerfully reach out to all those injured and hospitalised, wishing them a speedy recovery,” said President Mnangagwa.

He added that Zimbabwe “does not deserve this at all, let alone experiencing such a bloody incident at the beginning of the year.”

“The death of 24 Zimbabweans in a head-on collision between an Urban Connect bus and a commercial haulage truck, along the Beitbridge-Masvingo Highway this morning, left me horrified and heartbroken.

“Fellow Zimbabweans, our nation does not deserve this at all, let alone experiencing such a bloody incident at the beginning of the year. We must do all that is possible to curb this unjustified loss of life,” said the President.

He appealed to all motorists to exercise extreme caution on the road, for the sake of both fellow road users and themselves.

“All arms of the Government that are responsible for ensuring safety on our roads are thus constantly reminded to work around the clock and employ all legal means and powers available to them to reduce and ultimately put an end to such carnage,” said President Mnangagwa.