“Declare It a National Disaster”: Chitungwiza Mayo...

“Declare It a National Disaster”: Chitungwiza Mayor Urges Government Action After Seke Road Tragedy

ZimNow Reporter

Chitungwiza Mayor Councillor Rosaria Mangoma has called on the Government of Zimbabwe to immediately declare the deadly Seke Road accident at Hunyani Bridge a national disaster, saying the move is critical to unlock emergency resources for grieving families and survivors.

“I am formally appealing to the government of Zimbabwe to declare this a national disaster. Doing so will unlock vital support for the bereaved, who are in deep mourning. These were not just statistics—they were breadwinners, caregivers, and loved ones,” said Mayor Mangoma in a statement issued Tuesday morning.

Her appeal follows the fatal collision between a 30-ton haulage truck and a Nissan Caravan commuter omnibus that claimed 17 lives and injured four. The accident occurred on Monday morning along Seke Road, a notoriously dangerous highway that connects Chitungwiza and Harare.

https://www.zimbabwenow.co.zw/articles/15627/17-killed-in-horror-crash-on-seke-road

Mayor Mangoma said the Chitungwiza Municipality is mobilizing local churches, civil society, and businesses to assist affected families while waiting for a national response.

“We cannot undo what has happened, but we can stand with those in mourning and push for safer roads so this never happens again.”

Mangoma, who visited the crash site with the acting town clerk and council officials, described the scene as “one of the most traumatic our community has ever witnessed.”

“What I saw was heartbreaking. Emergency services worked tirelessly to retrieve bodies and assist the injured. This tragedy has shattered our community.”

More Than Mourning—A Plea for Policy Action

The mayor said a disaster declaration is not a practical step toward helping affected families through coordinated funeral assistance, trauma counseling, and financial relief.

“We must come together as a nation in this time of grief. Declaring this a national disaster signals that the state recognizes the scale of loss and stands ready to assist.”

She also renewed calls for urgent interventions on Seke Road, where four fatal crashes have occurred in a matter of months.

“In such a short space of time, Seke Road has claimed too many lives. We need road safety audits, enforcement, and infrastructure upgrades. No journey is worth a life.”