Harare  - Twenty-nine people died and at least 44 were injured in a bus accident in Zimbabwe Thursday, state-owned media reported.

The accident took place when a tyre of the bus burst, forcing the vehicle off the Harare-Masvingo road, about 100 km south of the capital, police spokesman Andrew Phiri said.

Air Force helicopters airlifted the injured to Harare.

The accident took place on the same road on which Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai's wife Susan died in March in a car crash. Tsvangirai survived with head and neck injuries. (dpa)