ZCC Mourns 17 Chitungwiza Road Victims Ahead of Heroes Day
The Zimbabwe Council of Churches (ZCC) today held a poignant gathering at Hunyani Bridge in Chitungwiza to mourn the tragic loss of 17 lives who perished in a fatal road accident last month.
The site of the accident had previously been visited by government ministers last month, who paid their respects to the victims and expressed their condolences to the bereaved families. Now, the ZCC has followed suit, holding a special service to honor the memories of those who lost their lives.
“We came here as the church because we were saddened by the innocent lives that perished on this bridge,” said Major Masimba Chidzomba, Public Relations Officer for the Salvation Army. “There are evil spirits and we come here to pray and cleanse this area in the name of Jesus.”
Chief Seke, a member of the Methodist Church in Zimbabwe, emphasized the importance of safe driving during the upcoming Heroes holidays. “I don’t want to accept that Heroes is associated with accidents cause they happen everyday but as we commemorate the Heroes Day I’m saying let’s Drive safe,” he said. “We should abide by Road rules to reduce accidents.”
Reverend Gift Sithole of the United Church of Christ added a message of hope and peace, saying, “We have to come here just to give a peace word to the country that says be still for I am the Lord. My brothers and pastors, ministers fraternity we are saying to the families who lost their loved ones to find peace. And those who perished rest in peace. Let’s stand together we claim life, life is lived once never lived twice.”
Road accidents are a major concern in Zimbabwe, particularly during holidays. According to the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP), the 2025 Easter holidays and lndependence holidays saw a surge in road traffic accidents compared to the same period in 2024, with 384 incidents recorded.
Meanwhile, the ZCC’s gathering serves as a haunting reminder of the importance of road safety, especially during holiday periods. As the nation prepares to commemorate Heroes Day, the church’s call for caution and adherence to road rules is a timely and necessary intervention.
