Own Correspondent|Government has declared a state of national disaster an accident in which 46 people were killed when two buses side-swapped at the 166-kilometre peg along Harare-Mutare highway on Wednesday evening.

The accident involved two buses, Bolt Cutter and Smart Express.

A state of national disaster allows the State to mobilise resources to assist the injured and bereaved families with cash and burial arrangements.

Government has already provided $25 000 towards the victims of the accident.

The Insurance Council of Zimbabwe will settle all hospital bills while funeral services provider FSG and Nyaradzo Funeral Services will assist with coffins and transporting the deceased to their final resting places.

The total monetary assistance to each of the bereaved families is $1350.