Tinotenda Hove– A dark cloud hangs over the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS) following a harrowing incident that claimed the lives of two senior security officers in a double tragedy near Mutimurefu Prison on May 21, 2025.

According to officials at Mutimurefu Prison, Principal Correctional Officer Masimba Mandimutsira was fatally struck by a Ford Ranger vehicle driven by Masvingo District Police Chief Superintendent Simangaliso Dube while attempting to rescue Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) Officer-in-Charge for Gutu District, Gift Nyama, who had moments earlier been involved in a separate traffic accident.

An officer at Mutimurefu Prison confirmed the incident and expressed sorrow at the tragic loss.

“Officer Mandimutsira was a selfless and committed member of our service. He did not hesitate to respond to the scene in a bid to save lives, and sadly, he paid the ultimate price,” the officer said.

The incident occurred at around 6:00 PM along the Mutare–Masvingo Highway, near the 22-kilometre peg, approximately 500 metres from the Mutimurefu Prison Farm bus stop—a stretch now regarded as a dangerous black spot, with multiple fatal accidents reported this year.

Sources close to the investigation revealed that Officer Nyama had been travelling from Gutu to Masvingo following a farewell function with a colleague, Johannes Tafirenyika, when his vehicle collided with a stationary tractor obstructing the road.

“We rushed to the scene as soon as we received the distress call,” said another ZPCS officer who requested anonymity. “Nyama’s car was badly damaged. Officer Mandimutsira was among the first to try and help.”

As rescuers gathered to provide aid to Nyama, a Ford Ranger—reportedly driven by Chief Superintendent Dube—ploughed into the group, fatally injuring Mandimutsira. He was rushed to Masvingo Provincial Hospital but was pronounced dead at around 7:30 PM.

“It’s heartbreaking,” the officer added. “We have lost not just a colleague but a hero who gave his life trying to save another. Our thoughts are with both families during this incredibly difficult time.”

Officer Nyama also succumbed to injuries sustained in the initial collision. His death and that of Mandimutsira have reignited urgent calls for enhanced road safety measures along the hazardous highway stretch.

ZPCS officials emphasized the need for immediate government intervention. “There must be warning signage, reflectors, and better lighting on that stretch,” the officer said. “We cannot keep losing lives like this.”

Police are conducting investigations into the sequence of events leading to the tragic crash.