Government Mobilises Logistical Support for Grieving Families After Fatal South Africa Bus Crash

The Zimbabwean government has mobilised comprehensive logistical support for the families of those lost in Monday’s fatal DNC bus accident in Makhado Town, South Africa. The primary initiative involves arranging free transport for the next of kin to travel to Polokwane to undertake the heart-wrenching task of identifying their deceased relatives.

This critical mission is a direct consequence of President Mnangagwa’s declaration of the incident as a State of Disaster. This move also triggers State-assisted funerals for the forty-three victims.

The Ministry of Local Government and Public Works formally outlined the logistical plans. Minister Daniel Garwe issued a statement urging relatives to come forward and assist authorities. He confirmed the concrete arrangements now in place, stating,

“Buses to ferry the next of kin from Harare to Polokwane have been arranged and scheduled to depart from the National Disaster Management Centre at Makombe Building on October 15, 2025, at noon.”

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This coordinated effort, which involves collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, is designed to alleviate the immense burden on grieving families during this profoundly difficult time.

Government Mobilises Logistical Support for Grieving Families

The complex process of bringing the victims home will begin in earnest once the identifications are complete. The government has assured the public that the repatriation of the deceased will commence immediately after positive confirmation by family members.

This operation falls under the directive of the Department of Civil Protection, which has been tasked with managing the State’s response. Minister Garwe’s statement elaborated on the President’s comprehensive orders, confirming,

“His Excellency, the President has directed the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works to provide State-assisted burials as well as payment of medical bills for the injured.”

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The scale of the loss has resonated at the highest levels of government, uniting leaders in shared grief. The tragic accident, which claimed the lives of a combination of Zimbabwean and Malawian nationals in South Africa’s Limpopo Province, has been met with profound sorrow.

Both President Mnangagwa and his South African counterpart, President Cyril Ramaphosa, publicly extended their deepest condolences to all the families affected by the Sunday disaster. The international dimension of the tragedy underscores the personal connections and economic ties that bind the southern African region, making the loss a collective one. As families prepare for their sorrowful journey to Polokwane, the promise of state support offers a small measure of solace amidst overwhelming grief.