Festive Season Carnage Claims 100 Lives as Road Accidents Surge

Zimbabwe recorded a worrying rise in road traffic accidents during the 2025 festive season, with 100 people killed in crashes recorded between mid and late December, marking a sharp increase from last year.

Police figures show that accidents, injuries and fatalities all climbed significantly compared to the same period in 2024, raising renewed concerns over road safety during peak travel times.

In a statement issued on Monday, national police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi said the statistics were compiled from incidents recorded between 15 and 26 December 2025. During that period, police attended to 2 412 road traffic accidents, nearly double the figure recorded over the same dates last year.

Fatal crashes also increased, with 87 deadly accidents recorded this year compared to 65 in 2024. The number of people who lost their lives rose from 77 to 100, while injuries increased to 471, up from 401 recorded during the previous festive season.

Commissioner Nyathi said investigations pointed to reckless driving behaviour as a major contributor to the spike, particularly excessive speeding.

He explained that many of the accidents involved drivers losing control of their vehicles, resulting in cars overturning, leaving the road or crashing into fixed objects such as trees. These incidents were more common during early morning and night-time hours, where fatigue and reduced visibility further increased the risks.

Mechanical faults and vehicle overloading were also cited as contributing factors, with police warning that poor vehicle maintenance and carrying excess passengers continue to cost lives on the country’s roads.

Nyathi also expressed concern over the high number of pedestrian fatalities recorded during the period and urged people on foot to take greater care when using roads.

He warned against pedestrians wearing earphones while walking near traffic, saying this reduces awareness of approaching vehicles and increases the risk of being struck.

Police have once again appealed to both motorists and pedestrians to strictly observe road rules and exercise caution, particularly during the remaining holiday period, as authorities intensify efforts to curb the rising death toll on Zimbabwe’s roads.