Key facts
- A minibus carrying schoolchildren caught fire in Gweru, Zimbabwe, on Wednesday.
A minibus carrying schoolchildren caught fire in Gweru, Zimbabwe, killing seven children. Authorities are investigating, with initial findings suggesting a jerry can of petrol may have caused the blaze. The incident highlights concerns about overcrowded vehicles used for school transport in the country.
This tragic incident underscores critical safety issues in Zimbabwe's school transportation system and highlights the broader problem of high road fatality rates in Africa, prompting renewed calls for regulatory oversight and improved safety standards.
Seven schoolchildren died when a minibus packed with students caught fire in Gweru, central Zimbabwe, on Wednesday afternoon. Authorities stated that 24 children were on board the vehicle when it ignited. An investigation is underway, with initial findings suggesting a jerry can of petrol stored inside the minibus may have been the cause of the fire.
Local media reported that the driver and conductor of the minibus were taken to a hospital. Photos of the burned-out vehicle showed that some children managed to escape the blaze, while others were trapped and killed. Rescue crews and firefighters responded to the scene.
The incident has renewed concerns about the safety of private minibuses and unregulated sedan taxis commonly used for school transport in Zimbabwe. A cabinet minister had previously noted a minibus carrying 42 schoolchildren, far exceeding its legal capacity of 15 passengers.
Road accidents are frequent in Zimbabwe, which has one of Africa's highest traffic fatality rates. The World Health Organization estimates nearly 30 road deaths per 100,000 people annually, with authorities attributing over 90% of crashes to human error. Across Africa, road crashes result in an estimated 300,000 deaths each year, representing about a quarter of the global toll, despite the continent having only about 3% of the world's vehicles.