KWEKWE — Seven people died on the spot while several others were injured when a Chipinge-bound Zupco bus they were travelling in reportedly rammed into a stationary truck along the Kwekwe-Gweru Road yesterday morning.
The latest accident occurred just 24 hours after another in which 13 people were killed after a kombi they were travelling in veered off the road and plunged into a dry riverbed along the Mbembesi—Fort Rixon Road near Bulawayo.
Police said in the latest incident, the seven victims were among the 40 passengers on the Zupco bus. “We are still compiling information on the accident, but we can confirm that seven passengers died on the spot and others have been taken to Gweru General Hospital.
“More information will be availed to you once the report is completed,” said Kwekwe police spokesperson Detective Sergeant Israel Mhondiwa. The bus driver, Patrick Nyemba, said the accident occurred around 05:30hours after he reportedly failed to steer clear of the truck which had broken down on the left side of the road. Nyemba said as he approached a bend near Connemara Open Prison about 30km from Gweru, he experienced visibility problems caused by a “dense mist”.
“I just saw the lorry when it was already too late and when I applied brakes, the bus failed to stop. So, I swerved to my right to avoid hitting it, but it was too late,” Nyemba said.
The lorry was loaded with steel bars. The tragedy happened as police declared a fresh blitz on public passenger vehicles after President Robert Mugabe’s motorcade was involved in an accident with a commuter omnibus on Sunday. One person died on the spot while 15 others were injured. Since Sunday, 26 people have perished in public passenger vehicle accidents which police said were caused by overloading, speeding and negligence by the drivers.
