HARARE -- The death toll from a recent bus-truck collision in Zimbabwe has increased to 28, local police said Monday.

The accident occurred on Feb 13 after the bus collided head-on with the truck while trying to overtake another vehicle at a tollgate in the Matabeleland South Province.

Seventeen people were confirmed dead at the scene, while seven others succumbed to their injuries later the same day after being taken to the hospital.

"The death toll has risen to 28," police said on X social media platform, adding that two victims, a man and a woman, are yet to be identified.

Following the crash, Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa expressed his condolences to the families and relatives of the victims while calling the accident a "national disaster."

The Zimbabwean government has suspended the bus company's operating license for six months after discovering that it did not have valid passenger insurance or a valid route permit.

According to the Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe, road traffic accidents claim about 150 lives in the southern African country every month.

Police attribute some road accidents to reckless driving, including speeding and failure to observe traffic regulations while others are caused by defective vehicles.