By Patience Gondo
TWO people were burnt beyond recognition while two others are fighting for their lives after two haulage trucks collided head on and burst into flames along the Masvingo Beitbridge Road near Matshiloni on Thursday February 19 night.
The fatal crash occurred at around 8PM at the 240km peg when a Volvo haulage truck travelling towards Beitbridge reportedly swerved to avoid cattle that had strayed onto the highway, veering into the path of an oncoming Scania truck.
The officer in charge of Beitbridge Police District in Chief Superintendent Melusi Ncube confirmed the fatal accident, saying the impact triggered an inferno that trapped some of the victims inside the wreckage.
“Yes, I can confirm there was a fatal accident involving two haulage trucks which collided at the 240km peg along the Masvingo–Beitbridge Road on February 19, 2026, at around 2000 hours,” He said.
“Two people, one driver and a passenger died on the spot. The two were burnt beyond recognition as the trucks caught fire after the collision. The other two survivors sustained serious injuries.”
Police said the driver of the Scania truck, James Hlomani (34) of Zimunya, Mutare who was employed by Active Power Logistics died at the scene after being trapped inside his burning vehicle.
An unidentified male passenger who had boarded the Volvo truck at EXO Garage in Masvingo and was travelling to Beitbridge also perished in the blaze.
His identity and next of kin had not been established by the time of publication.
The Volvo driver, Dylan Mapfunde (37) of Dangamvura Mutare, survived but sustained multiple fractures and severe burns.
He is admitted in critical condition at Beitbridge District Hospital.
His passenger, Thembinkosi Mtetwa (38) of Musapengura Village under Chief Musikavanhu in Gutu, also suffered extensive burns and multiple fractures and remains in critical condition at the same hospital.
Police said passers by risked their lives to pull the injured victims from the burning wreckage before the flames completely engulfed the trucks.
At the time of the accident, Mapfunde was driving an empty Volvo horse truck towing two trailers towards Beitbridge, while Hlomani was travelling in the opposite direction hauling maize towards Masvingo.
Both haulage trucks were extensively damaged, with one vehicle completely destroyed by fire.
The bodies of the deceased were taken to Beitbridge District Hospital mortuary for post mortem examinations, while investigations into the accident are ongoing.
Police urged motorists to exercise extreme caution, particularly at night when visibility is poor and livestock frequently stray onto highways.
“I urge motorists to be patient and cautious, especially when driving during night hours. Speeding thrills but kills,” Ncube said .
The tragedy has once again exposed the deadly danger posed by stray livestock along the busy Masvingo Beitbridge highway, one of the country’s major transport corridors.