A journey of love and tradition turned into a nightmare last week when a bridal delegation was completely wiped out in a devastating head-on collision on a dangerous stretch of highway in Zimbabwe.
A Fatal Journey to Conclude Marriage Rites
Ngonidzashe Gift Simango, aged 25, was traveling from Nyanga to Ruwa on December 23, 2025. His mission was a joyful one: to pay his roora (bride price) and formally conclude marriage ceremonies with his fiancée. He was not alone on this significant trip. Accompanying him were his church deacon, Taurai Kaseke (30), his best friend, Ngoni Mutsoka (28), and his younger sister, Caroline Simango (22).
Tragedy struck in the Mufusire Uphill area in Headlands. Their Nissan Note vehicle was involved in a catastrophic collision with a Mozambican-registered haulage truck. The impact was so severe that Simango, Kaseke, and Mutsoka lost their lives instantly. Caroline Simango survived the crash but sustained critical, life-threatening injuries.
Legal Proceedings and Community Mourning
The driver of the haulage truck has been identified as Ibrahim Alibashire Adanw, a 42-year-old Kenyan national. He has been formally charged with three counts of culpable homicide. Appearing before the Rusape Magistrates Court, Adanw entered a guilty plea.
Prosecutor Faith Mutukwa presented the court with a damning account of the driver's actions. The accused admitted to several grave errors that directly caused the accident:
- Overtaking in the path of an oncoming vehicle.
- Travelling at an excessive speed.
- Failing to maintain a proper lookout for other road users.
- Not taking any evasive action even when a collision was imminent.
The court heard that Adanw encroached into the opposite lane, causing the fatal head-on crash. His case has been adjourned, and he is expected back in court on January 5, 2026, for sentencing.
The accident sent shockwaves through the Nyangani Park community, plunging families into deep mourning just days before Christmas celebrations. Godwin Simango, a family spokesperson, confirmed the heartbreaking loss. "We lost our son, Gift Simango, who perished together with his church deacon and friend," he said. "We are deeply affected as a family to lose Gift and those who were accompanying him to marry in Ruwa. Their prospective in-laws were already waiting for the delegation and were shocked to learn of the tragic accident."
He added that the injured Caroline was initially rushed to Marondera Provincial Hospital before being transferred to Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals for specialized critical care.
A Shadow Over the Festive Season
The funerals were held in quick succession, casting a long, dark shadow over what should have been a period of joy. Gift Simango was buried in Nyanga on December 25, Christmas Day. On that same day, his friend Ngoni Mutsoka was laid to rest in Harare. Taurai Kaseke was buried in Nyanga on December 26.
This heartbreaking incident is not isolated. It occurs against a backdrop of a alarming nationwide increase in road fatalities during the festive season. According to reports from the Zimbabwe Republic Police, at least 100 people lost their lives in road accidents between December 15 and 26, 2025. This marks a significant and worrying rise from the 77 deaths recorded during the same period in 2024. Authorities consistently cite excessive speed as a leading cause of these preventable tragedies.
