The incident, which occurred just a few kilometres from the site of last week's devastating 17-fatality crash, has intensified public alarm and renewed urgent calls for action on road safety.

The vehicle, believed to be an 18-seater commuter omnibus, was reportedly travelling towards Harare from Chitungwiza when it suffered a tyre burst, causing the driver to lose control and the vehicle to veer off the road.

"Seke Road Is Now An Accident Hotspot": Eyewitness Accounts

Social media was immediately flooded with reactions and eyewitness accounts as news of the crash broke. Posting on X (formerly Twitter), user Street Hustler_Gri7zmann described the terrifying scene and the growing fear among commuters:

Fresh Seke Road Horror: 16 Seriously Injured as Overloaded Sprinter Crashes Near Chinhamo

“Seke road is now becoming an accident hotspot, moving at 1 accident per day. Overloaded Sprinter, tyre burst, driver lost control, kombi yarohwawo necross. No death recorded yet, multiple injured especially standing passengers.”

Eyewitnesses at the scene corroborated claims that the vehicle was carrying more passengers than its legal capacity, a common and dangerous practice. Many of those who sustained serious injuries were reportedly standing passengers, who are particularly vulnerable in such incidents.

16 Rushed to Chitungwiza Hospital

The scale of the accident was confirmed by The Sunday Mail, which reported on the immediate aftermath: "16 people who were travelling in this 18-seater commuter omnibus have been rushed to Chitungwiza Central Hospital following an accident that occurred along Seke Road near Chinhamo Service Station this morning.”

ZBC News Online also confirmed the location, stating, “Several people were seriously injured when a Mercedes Benz Sprinter headed for Harare from Chitungwiza burst a tyre and veered off the road near Chinhamo Bridge… The injured have been taken to Chitungwiza Hospital.”

Thankfully, as of now, no fatalities have been reported in this specific incident. Emergency services responded swiftly to the scene, and investigations into the exact cause of the crash are now underway.

A Heartbreaking Dilemma: Injured Woman Refuses Hospital Treatment

Compounding the tragedy of this latest crash is a deeply distressing situation involving one of the victims. According to reports from DJ Ollah, who was at the scene, a seriously injured woman with severe head injuries and a broken leg refused to be transported to the hospital by the ambulance crew.

The woman reportedly informed emergency responders that her church, identified as Johane Marange, does not permit its members to seek medical treatment at hospitals. This heartbreaking dilemma highlights the complex intersection of faith, personal belief, and emergency medical care, leaving onlookers and responders in a difficult position.

Public Outcry and Renewed Calls for Safety

This latest crash, occurring so soon after the national disaster that claimed 17 lives just last week, has fueled a growing public outcry. Citizens are expressing immense frustration over the continued use of overloaded kombis, the prevalence of unroadworthy vehicles (highlighted by the tyre burst), and reckless driving along the busy Seke Road corridor.

The recurring accidents have solidified the road's reputation as a dangerous "accident hotspot," prompting urgent calls for increased police enforcement, stringent vehicle inspections, and even spiritual cleansing ceremonies from a concerned and grieving public.