The Tanzania Police Force in the Mbeya Region has announced that 28 people had died as of Sunday, June 8, 2025, following an accident involving a truck that rear-ended two small passenger vehicles on Iwambi Hill along the Mbeya–Tunduma Road on the evening of Saturday, June 7, 2025, at around 7:00 p.m.
It has been reported that the cause of the accident was negligence by the driver of the truck, a Scania with registration T830EDP/T148CTD which was transporting a consignment of flour from Dar es Salaam to Zambia.
“The truck hit from behind two small vehicles: a Mitsubishi Rosa with registration T257 DVP and a Toyota Lite Ace with registration T185DMF,” states the Police statement.
According to Mbeya Regional Police Commander ACP Benjamin Kuzaga, among the 28 who died, there were two girls and two boys. He also stated that 9 others sustained injuries and are receiving treatment, including the truck driver who is under police custody while undergoing medical care.
ACP Kuzaga further noted that 18 of the bodies have been identified by relatives, while the remaining bodies have not yet been identified.
The Iwambi hill area along this Tunduma–Mbeya road commonly known as the TANZAM Highway, has been a frequent site of accidents for many years, especially involving trucks.
Speaking to the media on Sunday at the accident site, Mbeya Regional Commissioner Juma Homera announced that the government has ordered the expansion of a bypass route. This would allow trucks to use the bypass, leaving the Iwambi hill road for small vehicles only.
Meanwhile, the President of the United Republic of Tanzania, Samia Suluhu Hassan, has sent condolences to the bereaved families and well wishes to the injured. In her message, she called on all drivers in the country to adhere to road safety regulations.
