A devastating head-on collision between a bus and a lorry in Zimbabwe has claimed the lives of 24 people, according to police reports.

The accident occurred near Beitbridge, a town on the southern border with South Africa, said Police spokesman Paul Nyathi. The bus was en route from Harare, the capital, to Beitbridge, carrying 65 passengers. Preliminary investigations suggest that the bus was attempting to overtake another vehicle when it collided with the haulage truck, added Nyathi.

The exact number of injured individuals remains uncertain. State media released images showing covered bodies strewn on the ground and the twisted wreckage of the bus and lorry.

The state-run Herald newspaper cited a government medical officer in Beitbridge stating that 17 people died at the scene, while seven others succumbed to head injuries at a local hospital. The paper also reported that 30 other individuals were injured and are currently hospitalised.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has declared the crash a national disaster and assured that the government will cover funeral and burial costs. Bus-related road accidents are common in this southern African nation, often due to drivers exceeding speed limits to maximise daily trips.

Poor road conditions also contribute to these accidents. The site of the recent accident had been resurfaced as part of government efforts to improve infrastructure.

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