Two South African men were killed, while three others were injured when a Toyota Hilux bakkie they were travelling in veered off the road and rammed into a tree while the driver was trying to avoid a stray donkey along the Bulawayo-Beitbridge road in Zimbabwe, police said.

The police spokesman for Matabeleland South province, Insp Tafanana Dzirutwe, told Mirror that the accident occurred on Sunday at around 08:00 in the West Nicholson area.

The car, which had five people on board, was heading towards Beitbridge town.

The victims were reportedly coming from a holiday trip in Victoria Falls and were now on their way back to South Africa through Beitbridge border post.

The three injured were rushed to Gwanda Hospital where they were treated and subsequently discharged, having suffered minor injuries.

Insp Dzirutwe said they could not release the names of the deceased as they were yet to inform the victims´ next of kin. "We suspect the car was speeding and as police we would like to urge motorists to avoid speeding, largely because our roads are very narrow and we also have so many stray donkeys along the major highways, which is another cause of accidents, especially at night," said the police spokesman.