At least 43 people died and 24 others were injured when the driver of a Zimbabwe-registered bus lost control of the vehicle before it veered of the road and rammed into a tree, authorities confirmed on Thursday (June 8). 

National police spokesperson, Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba, said the accident, which involved a King Lion bus which was on its way to Zambia, occurred on Wednesday night along the Harare-Chirundu Highway, around the Nyamakate area, about 30 kilometres before Makuti, reports Fox News.

Charamba says the bus driver failed to negotiate a curve, though a formal investigation of the crash is underway.

Charamba says 43 people died at the scene and another two died of their injuries on Thursday.

Many Zimbabweans travel to Zambia by bus daily to trade in foodstuffs and clothes.

In July 2015, eight passengers died and 53 others were injured when one of the company's buses, which was heading towards Harare, suffered a tyre burst and overturned along the Chirundu road, after the Kafue Gorge in Zambia.

BDST: 2010 HRS, JUNE 8, 2017
AP