By Admore Mbonda in Kariba
Karoi – What was meant to be a routine journey turned into an unimaginable tragedy on Sunday evening when four members of the Matonde family lost their lives in a devastating road accident along the Karoi-Binga Road.
The victims—Juliet Matonde (32) and her three daughters Eunice (13), Debra (8), and Letwin (3)—were travelling home to Dixie Farm in Magunje when the overloaded Honda Fit they were in collided head-on with a Ford Ranger at the 25-kilometre peg, around 6:30 PM.
The heartbreaking news has sent shockwaves through the close-knit farming community, now grappling with the loss of a mother and her young children.
Neighbours and relatives have described the Matonde family as kind, hardworking, and tightly bonded. “This is a dark moment for us all,” said one family friend.
“We have lost innocent lives far too soon.”
According to police, the Honda Fit was carrying 12 passengers, while the Ford Ranger had seven on board. National police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed that four people died instantly, with 15 others suffering serious injuries.
The injured were rushed to Karoi District Hospital, where they are receiving treatment.
As the community mourns, authorities are renewing calls for road safety awareness.
“This tragedy could have been avoided,” Commissioner Nyathi said. “We urge drivers to avoid overloading and to exercise extreme caution on the roads.”
The bodies of the Matonde family members have been taken to Karoi District Hospital mortuary for post-mortems, while plans for a memorial service are underway.
The tragedy has highlighted ongoing concerns over road safety and enforcement in Zimbabwe, especially in rural areas where public transport is often stretched beyond capacity.
But for now, the focus remains on the grieving family and the heartbreaking loss of four lives—each with dreams, laughter, and a future now forever lost.
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