By Lomqhele Nxumalo
Police in Matabeleland North are searching for a motorist who struck and killed a pedestrian before fleeing the scene on the Bulawayo–Victoria Falls Highway.
The fatal accident occurred at the 420-kilometre peg, near the Chisuma turn-off just outside Victoria Falls.
According to the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP), a 37-year-old man was walking along the highway when a speeding vehicle struck him. The impact was severe enough to kill the pedestrian instantly. Instead of stopping to render assistance, the driver accelerated and fled.
The ZRP has launched a full investigation, though both the make of the vehicle and its registration details remain unknown. The victim’s identity has not yet been released to the public as he was not carrying identification documents.
“Driving on that stretch at night is incredibly dangerous because there are no streetlights,” said a local taxi driver who regularly uses the route. “You can easily hit an elephant or a pedestrian before you even have time to brake.”
The fatality comes amid a sharp increase in hit-and-run accidents across Zimbabwe, with official figures showing over 2,000 pedestrian casualties recorded in the first quarter of the year.
Authorities note that many drivers flee due to a lack of valid vehicle insurance or fear of prosecution.Police are appealing to truck drivers, public transport operators, and villagers in surrounding areas who may have witnessed the incident to come forward with any information at their nearest police station.
