By Crime and Courts Reporter-Six people are feared dead after a Honda Fit veered off the road and plunged into a disused chrome pit in the Gakaka area of Shurugwi South on Sunday night.
The vehicle, which was travelling from Shurugwi to Zvishavane, reportedly lost control and fell into the abandoned pit filled with water.
Search and rescue operations were underway on Monday as sub-aqua teams were deployed to retrieve the bodies and the submerged car.
Shurugwi District Development Coordinator Rome Shangwa, confirmed the incident to The Mirror.
“Search operations are currently underway, with sub-aqua teams deployed. Six people are feared dead. The vehicle fell into a disused mining pit near the road, and we are still trying to establish what exactly happened,” said Shangwa.
The abandoned pits have long been a source of concern for residents, who have repeatedly called on the government to close them due to the dangers they pose.
In January, a Shurugwi female prison inmate lost her two minor children after they drowned while swimming in one of the pits.
Midlands police spokesperson, Emmanuel Mahoko, said they are yet to receive an official report on the incident.
“We are still gathering information on the case and have not yet received it from the responsible police station,” said Mahoko.
The Honda Fit, a small, fuel-efficient hatchback, has gained notoriety in Zimbabwe as the preferred vehicle for Mushikashika—illegal pirate taxis that operate outside formal transport regulations.
Due to its affordability, low fuel consumption, and agility in navigating urban and rural routes, the Honda Fit has become a staple in Zimbabwe’s informal transport sector.
However, the rise of Honda Fit operators has been accompanied by an alarming increase in road accidents.
Many of these vehicles operate without proper registration, insurance, or roadworthiness certification.
Their drivers often overload passengers, ignore traffic rules, and engage in reckless driving to evade police crackdowns.
Shurugwi, like many other towns in Zimbabwe, has witnessed a surge in Honda Fit-related accidents.
Speeding, overloading, and poor road conditions have contributed to a series of fatal crashes.
The latest accident is a grim reminder of the risks posed by these unregulated transporters.
Mushikashika drivers are locked in a perpetual game of cat and mouse with the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP).
Authorities have launched numerous crackdowns, impounding vehicles and arresting unlicensed drivers.
However, the lucrative nature of the informal transport business means that many operators quickly return to the roads, often with vehicles that have been stripped of their registration plates to evade identification.
High-speed chases between police and Mushikashika drivers have led to tragic accidents, some of which have resulted in the loss of innocent lives.