Fatal Road Accident Claims Five Lives in Songwe Region, Including Two Police Officers

Songwe – A tragic road accident in Songwe Region has claimed five lives, including two police officers from the Mbeya Region Field Force Unit, with nine others sustaining injuries on Tuesday, December 16, 2025.

The Songwe Regional Police confirmed the incident occurred at Karasha area in Mbozi District along the Mbeya–Tunduma Highway on Wednesday, December 17, 2025.

The collision involved a commercial lorry owned by Security Group of Africa (SGA), Mbeya Branch, a motorcycle, and a minibus.

The lorry was traveling from Tunduma to Mbeya with two police officers escorting cash, while the minibus was heading in the opposite direction from Mbeya to Tunduma.

Police identified the deceased officers as H.7042 CPL Chirungu Misango John and WP.15582 PC Amina Japhari Hamisi.

"As a result of the accident, five people died, including the two police officers from Mbeya Regional Police, while nine others sustained injuries and were taken to the hospital for treatment," the police statement confirmed.

Other fatalities include Adam Martin (38), the minibus driver and Mbeya resident, a motorcyclist aged between 30 and 35 whose identity remains unknown, and an unidentified male passenger estimated to be between 25 and 29 years old.

The injured include Mariam Kipangula (30) from Mlowo, Getruda Mndulo (20), Shukrani Nduka (40), an SGA guard from Mbeya, Gadi Myegeta (46), a minibus conductor, and Mariam Ramadhani (37).

Additional victims are Orines Ngoda (14), a Form Two student at Joy Girls Secondary School in Tukuyu from Mbeya, Hosea Ngoda (7), a Standard Two pupil at Julius Primary School, Samwel Mbeyela (42), the lorry driver and SGA guard from Mbeya, and an unidentified woman estimated to be between 28 and 31 years old.

Preliminary police investigations indicate the accident was caused by negligence on the part of the minibus driver, who struck the motorcycle ahead of him, lost control, and collided head-on with the oncoming lorry.

Excessive speeding in a residential area reportedly worsened the impact of the crash.

The Songwe Regional Police have urged all drivers to comply with road safety laws, emphasizing the importance of avoiding speeding, observing road signs and markings, adhering to traffic regulations, and exercising extreme caution in residential areas to protect the lives of all road users.