By Desire Tshuma
Harare -Zimbabwe’s highways are turning into killing fields at night, with the Zimbabwe Republic Police warning that poor visibility, stray livestock and reckless farming practices are fueling a spike in fatal crashes.
In a strongly worded statement dated 24 July, the ZRP said observation and visibility challenges after dark, combined with animals roaming onto major roads, have made night travel “extremely hazardous”.
“Some farmers are contributing to the accidents by driving cattle through the roads or allowing them to graze on road verges leading to road traffic accidents,” police said.
The force urged motorists, institutions and sporting teams to abandon night travel and schedule movements during daylight hours to curb the carnage. Farmers were also put on notice to secure livestock, with the ZRP warning of intensified enforcement and stakeholder engagements with transporters and rural communities.
The warning comes as the nation reels from the Mbembesi road crash that wiped out part of Highlanders Football Club’s leadership and left the Bulawayo giants in mourning.
Police confirmed the identities of the four victims as:
– Sifiso Siziba, 55, senior officer in ZRP Nkulumane District and Highlanders vice-chairperson
– Kenneth Mhlope, 70, prominent Bulawayo businessman and Highlanders chairperson
– Nkani Khoza, 66, Bulawayo business executive and Highlanders treasurer
– Mbalenhle Sibanda, 27, dedicated Highlanders supporter
The accident has dealt a body blow to the club, stripping it of both its chair and vice-chair within hours, and raising fresh questions about road safety for teams and fans traveling across provinces for matches.
Beyond the tragedy, the ZRP lashed out at what it termed interference at accident scenes. Police warned that releasing victims’ names before next of kin are notified, and tampering with crash sites, constitutes defeating or obstructing the course of justice.
The force said it was investigating individuals who descended on the Mbembesi scene soliciting “biased and half-backed information” to push narratives that compromise official investigations.
“Members of the public are reminded to genuinely assist road traffic accident victims and police officers to manage scenes and avoid actions that prejudice investigations,” the statement read.
Road safety experts have long flagged Zimbabwe’s night driving culture as a crisis, with long-distance buses, haulage trucks and private vehicles frequently traveling after dark despite poor road markings, inadequate lighting and stray animals. The ZRP’s latest appeal adds to mounting calls for stricter regulation of night travel, particularly for passenger and sporting teams.
As Highlanders and the football fraternity come to terms with the loss, the ZRP’s message was blunt: stay off the roads at night, or risk becoming the next statistic