AFRICA/ZIMBABWE – Father Chikuni’s tragic death draws attention to road safety

Harare – Hit and killed in a road accident, he was reported missing for eleven days. This is the tragic fate of Father Regis Chikuni, a priest of the Archdiocese of Harare, Zimbabwe.
The priest disappeared on 29 August, but his body was found only on 9 September in the mortuary of Parirenyatwa Hospital.
At the time of his death, Fr Chikuni was not carrying any identification documents. His body was therefore transferred to the hospital mortuary as that of an unidentified victim, where it remained until 9 September, when another priest, Fr Prince Murungweni, confirmed his identity.
Police have charged 22-year-old Sean Gamu Makoni with culpable homicide in connection with the priest’s death. According to the authorities, on 29 August Makoni was travelling south along Prince Edward Road when his Honda Fit hit Fr Chikuni. The young man was alone in the vehicle and is cooperating with the authorities in the investigation.
According to initial reports, the vehicle was no longer at the scene when the priest was assisted and taken away. Police have not said that Fr Chikuni was deliberately targeted. The charge brought against the 22-year-old concerns the priest’s death following the road accident.
The funeral of Fr Chikuni was held on 14 September.
His disappearance had caused deep concern in the Archdiocese of Harare, which had appealed for assistance in locating him. In the statement in which it finally announced the priest’s death, the Archdiocese recalled “his dedication to pastoral ministry”, stressing that “the impact he had on our community will remain forever engraved in our hearts”.
“We are aware that news of his passing represents a profound loss for all of us,” the statement reads. “We therefore invite the community to join in prayer, remembering with gratitude the gifts and blessings that Fr Chikuni brought into our lives.”
Fr Chikuni, 58, led charismatic groups in Harare and had served at Holy Rosary Parish in Mvurwi, in Mashonaland Central Province.
The tragic accident in which the priest lost his life has also drawn attention to the issue of road safety in Zimbabwe. According to figures released during a road safety campaign, between January and March 2026 police recorded 2,081 pedestrians killed or injured in road accidents involving hit-and-run incidents, compared with 1,905 cases recorded during the same period the previous year.
Police reported that the victims included schoolchildren and pedestrians crossing roads or walking along particularly busy routes.

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