Mnangagwa orders state assistance for victims of Limpopo bus crash 

HARARE – President Emmerson Mnangagwa has expressed his condolences to the families of Zimbabweans and other nationals who died in Sunday’s bus crash in South Africa’s Limpopo province, and directed that the Zimbabwean government cover the costs of repatriation, burial and medical care for local victims.

In a statement on Monday, Mnangagwa said he was “deeply shocked and grieved” by the accident, which claimed 49 lives, including Zimbabwean citizens, when a cross-border bus travelling from Gqeberha, Port Elizabeth, to Harare and onward to Malawi plunged down an embankment on the N1 highway near Makhado.

“On behalf of the government of Zimbabwe, I wish to express my heartfelt condolences to families of the bereaved commuters here in Zimbabwe and other SADC countries so affected,” Mnangagwa said.

He said he had instructed government departments and agencies to provide state assistance for the repatriation of the remains of Zimbabweans killed in the crash and to meet their funeral costs.

“In respect of the injured, the government will meet all hospital bills,” he added.

The president also called for stronger regional cooperation on transport safety, saying the tragedy highlighted the need for Southern African countries to harmonise road traffic laws and enforcement.

“It has become incumbent for traffic enforcement agencies across jurisdictions to collaborate more closely, and for our respective governments to harmonise our legislations in respect of vehicular traffic,” Mnangagwa said.

He commended the South African government for its swift response to the disaster.

The accident, one of the deadliest cross-border road tragedies in recent years, has prompted renewed scrutiny of long-distance bus operations between South Africa and its northern neighbours.

The deceased include 18 women, 17 men, and seven children.