Govt clarifies viral video on haulage truck incident

Source: The Herald – Breaking news.

 

Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Felix Mhona

Freeman Razemba-Senior Reporter

Government has broken its silence on a social media video that has gone viral, claiming a haulage truck got stuck on the newly revamped Masvingo-Beitbridge Road.

Setting the record straight, the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development has confirmed that the incident occurred on an old, disused section of the highway—not on the current detour of the Masvingo-Beitbridge Highway.

Preliminary investigations have revealed that the truck in question got stuck along the old Masvingo Highway, near the 42km peg close to Bhati Shops.

This particular stretch of road, long abandoned, includes a damaged low-level crossing over Tugwi River and is no longer part of the active road network.

It was further discovered that the truck driver was attempting to bypass the designated detour and reconnect with the main highway, which ultimately led to the mishap in the video.

In an official statement, the Ministry expressed concern over the misleading nature of the circulating footage.

“The Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development notes with concern a viral video currently circulating on social media, purportedly showing a sinking haulage truck along the Masvingo-Beitbridge Road. Upon careful review, the video depicts an incident on the old Masvingo Highway, specifically near the 42km peg, close to Bhati Shops,” the statement read.

The Ministry clarified that this section of the road, a deteriorated strip leading to the Tugwi River crossing, was previously allocated to Fossil Contracting for maintenance.

However, Fossil Contracting has categorically denied responsibility for the incident, with their representatives confirming that the event did not occur within their operational scope.

Said the Ministry: “This section of the road is not part of the current detour along the Masvingo-Beitbridge Highway. Further investigations revealed that the truck driver was attempting to reconnect to the existing highway, bypassing the detour. We urge the public to exercise caution and rely on verified information.”