Tinotenda Hove – President Emmerson Mnangagwa has declared the horrific road accident that claimed 17 lives along the Harare–Chitungwiza Road on Tuesday a national disaster.

The announcement was delivered by the Minister of Local Government and Public Works, Honourable Daniel Garwe, during a sombre address to grieving families at a Chitungwiza funeral parlour where the bodies of the deceased are currently being held.

In a gesture of solidarity and national mourning, the government will provide state-assisted funerals for the victims.

“The President has declared this a national disaster in recognition of the magnitude of the tragedy and the pain it has brought to families and the nation,” Minister Garwe said.

The accident, which occurred earlier this week, is one of the deadliest in recent memory and has reignited public concern over road safety, reckless driving, and poor enforcement of traffic regulations. Although full details of the crash are still under investigation, preliminary reports suggest that human error and possible vehicle unfitness played a role.

Families at the funeral parlour wept openly as they received the government’s commitment to cover funeral costs, but several mourners expressed frustration, stating that the gesture, while appreciated, does not address the systemic issues that lead to such disasters.

“It is not enough to assist only after lives are lost. When will we see action that prevents these tragedies?” asked one bereaved relative, calling for stricter regulation of public transport operators and urgent road rehabilitation.

Calls are growing for the government to back its words with tangible reforms. As the country mourns, many are hoping this disaster will serve as a wake-up call—not just to honour the dead, but to protect the living.