AT least 28 people have died and nine others injured in a tragic road accident in near Mbeya city after a lorry carrying a load of flour failed to brake and rammed into two vehicles, including a commuter minibus.

ACP Benjamin Kuzaga, the regional police commander, confirmed the truck involved was a Scania T 830 EDP and trailer T 148 CTD. The vehicles it struck were commuter minibus (T 257 DVP) plying the Mbalizi-Mwanjelwa route, and a Toyota Hiace van (T.185 DMF).

The accident occurred on Saturday evening around 7pm at the Iwambi Hill descent on the outskirts of Mbeya City. The truck, en route to neighbouring Zambia, reportedly lost control and ploughed into a commuter minibus and another Toyota Hiace van, before plunging into a ravine near the Mbalizi River, crushing the passenger vehicle beneath it.

Rescue efforts, coordinated by a fire and rescue unit, the police and the military, assisted local residents seeking out the injured for much of the night, retrieving bodies of those who died and survivors from the wreckage.

All 28 fatalities occurred in the minibus, including 10 women and 14 men, along with four children (two boys and two girls), with the injured receiving treatment at Ifisi Regional Hospital.

“So far, 19 of the bodies have been identified by relatives, while nine remain unidentified. We urge families to visit the mortuary for identification,” the RPC appealed.

The crash arose from driver negligence as the lorry was descending the steep slope at high speed using an inappropriate gear for mountainous terrain, the RPC intoned.

Juma Homera, the regional commissioner, conveyed a message of condolence from President Samia Suluhu Hassan to the families of 28 people who died in the road crash.

Thr government will covering funeral costs for the deceased and offer a sympathy grant of 500,000/- to each family, the message indicated, where the government would cover all funeral expenses for the victims, including the purchase of coffins.

 “Over 30m/- has been allocated to support burial arrangements. The government will also pay all medical costs for the injured,” the RC indicated, affirming that plans are underway to reduce accidents along the dangerous stretch.

Instructions have been issued to the Tanzania Roads Agency (Tanroads) to construct a bypass road for trucks, while accelerating an ongoing compensation process for road expansion in the Iwambi area, he stated.

“We’ve already secured 3bn/- to begin land compensation for road expansion while we wait for the Uyole–Songwe bypass to be constructed,” he elaborated.

Dr. Morice Martin, the Ifisi Hospital top medic, confirmed that of the 28 fatalities, only one died while receiving treatment; the rest being pronounced dead on arrival. 

Most of the injured suffered broken limbs, head injuries and chest trauma, with two requiring emergency surgery, he said.

Iwambi Hill is among Mbeya’s most accident-prone zones, prompting the government to impose alternating traffic flow for passenger and cargo vehicles to minimize collisions, residents say.

CCM also mourned the loss of lives in the accident, urging the police to strengthen road safety and work to curb similar incidents nationwide.

The party secretariat also warned drivers to strictly adhere to traffic laws to avoid unnecessary accidents.

Amos Makalla, the publicity, ideology and training secretary, made these remarks in Arusha, where he is on a weeklong zonal tour.