By Xinhua

HARARE: Nine people were killed and 31 others injured Friday morning when two passenger vehicles collided on a road south of Harare, the capital of Zimbabwe, the police said, as Zimbabweans traveled to various destinations for the long Easter weekend.

“The Zimbabwe Republic Police confirms a fatal road traffic accident which occurred today at around 6 a.m. where nine people were killed while 31 others were injured when a Toyota Caravan kombi with 18 occupants and a minibus with 22 occupants collided along Harare-Masvingo Road,” the police said in a statement, adding that 20 passengers were admitted at the nearby Mvuma Hospital while 11 others had been ferried to Gweru Hospital.

Many Zimbabweans travel across the country during the Easter weekend for either holidays or prayer, resulting in increases in road traffic accidents.

At least 73 people died in road accidents during the Easter and Independence Day holidays in 2022.