A journey meant to celebrate love and traditional marriage rites ended in tragedy last week when a bridal delegation was involved in a fatal head-on collision on a notorious stretch of highway.
Ngonidzashe Gift Simango, 25, was travelling from Nyanga to Ruwa on December 23 to pay his roora and formally conclude marriage arrangements with his fiancée. He was accompanied by his church deacon, Taurai Kaseke, 30; his best friend, Ngoni Mutsoka, 28; and his younger sister, Caroline Simango, 22.
Their Nissan Note was struck by a Mozambican-registered haulage truck at the Mufusire Uphill area in Headlands. Simango, Kaseke and Mutsoka died on the spot, while Caroline survived but sustained critical injuries.
The accident plunged the Nyangani Park community into deep mourning just days before Christmas. Family spokesperson Godwin Simango confirmed the deaths and spoke about the profound emotional impact on both families.
“We lost our son, Gift Simango, together with his church deacon and close friend. As a family, we are devastated by the loss of Gift and those who were accompanying him to Ruwa for his marriage rites. His prospective in-laws were already waiting for the delegation and were shocked by the news of the accident,” he said.
Caroline was initially taken to Marondera Provincial Hospital before being transferred to Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals, where she is receiving specialist treatment.
The driver of the haulage truck, 42-year-old Kenyan national Ibrahim Alibashire Adanw, has been charged with three counts of culpable homicide. He appeared before the Rusape Magistrates Court and pleaded guilty.
Prosecutor Faith Mutukwa told the court that the accused admitted to overtaking into oncoming traffic, driving at excessive speed, failing to keep a proper lookout, and taking no evasive action before the crash. The court heard that he crossed into the opposite lane, resulting in the deadly collision.
He is expected to return to court on January 5, 2026, for sentencing. The victims were buried in quick succession during the festive period: Gift Simango was laid to rest in Nyanga on December 25, Ngoni Mutsoka was buried in Harare the same day, while Taurai Kaseke was buried in Nyanga on December 26.
The incident comes amid a sharp rise in road fatalities nationwide. Zimbabwe Republic Police data shows that at least 100 people died in road accidents between December 15 and 26, 2025, compared to 77 during the same period in 2024, with speeding identified as a major contributing factor.
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