The festive season death toll has risen to 200 after 20 more people died in separate road accidents countrywide between Thursday evening and yesterday morning, police have said. Police spokesperson Superintendent Andrew Phiri yesterday said four people were killed on Thursday when a Toyota Noah they were travelling in burst a tyre and overturned at the 74km peg along the Masvingo-Mbalabala Road.

Two people died on the spot while two others died at Zvishavane district hospital.

Of the seven who are in hospital, two are said to be in critical condition while the other five are said to be recovering well.

Supt Phiri said three other people died on the spot and 18 others were injured in a related incident when a Mazda Bongo commuter omnibus they were travelling in veered off the road at Nkenyani Bridge in Lower Gweru, plunging into the river.

Passengers of the Bongo alleged that the driver of the vehicle, which had Botswana registration plates, fell asleep resulting in the accident.

The injured were taken to Gweru provincial hospital.

This festive season has seen the police issuing 13 048 tickets for various traffic offences.

A total of 1244 accidents have been recorded, 111 of these were fatal and 977 people were left nursing injuries.