Harare, Zimbabwe — A minibus taxi caught fire on a highway in southwestern Zimbabwe on Thursday, killing about a half-dozen people, police said.
Police spokesman Paul Nyathi said authorities were still trying to confirm the exact number of victims, but that it was “about 18”.
The vehicle exploded and caught fire on a highway near Bulawayo, the country’s second-largest city in the southwest, police said in a separate statement. He did not immediately give any reason for the fire.
Minibus taxis are a popular form of public transport in the southern African nation and are often filled well beyond their recommended capacity.
