Catholic Bishop in Mozambique Calls for Shared Responsibility to Protect Life Amid Surge in Deadly Road Accidents

Bishop Inácio Lucas Mwita of the Diocese of Gurúè is calling on motorists, passengers, traffic authorities, and Christians to work together to prevent road accidents and respect safety regulations. During a homily at St. Anthony’s Cathedral, the bishop urged Mozambicans to move from mourning tragedies to strengthening accident prevention to protect human life.

Bishop Mwita spoke following a September 17 accident in the Zavala District of Inhambane Province, where a passenger vehicle collided with a Mozambique Defence Armed Forces truck. The collision killed 24 people and injured two others. The bishop questioned why such recurring tragedies continue to happen in the country.

National data cited by the bishop shows that 169 traffic accidents occurred during the first half of 2026, causing 239 deaths and more than 1,000 injuries. Bishop Mwita attributed the accidents to factors such as indiscipline among motorists and issues within public transportation.