KWEKWE – The Kwekwe District Civil Protection Unit has applied to the government for state-assisted funerals for 12 victims who perished in a horrific road accident along the Harare-Bulawayo Road on Monday morning.

The CPU is also seeking to have the tragedy declared a national disaster.

The fatal crash occurred at the 200-kilometre peg near Sebakwe River and involved a petrol tanker, a two-tonne truck, and a Nissan AD van.

The victims (six men and six women), believed to be informal vendors from Mbizo, were reportedly enroute to sell goods at Indarama Mine.

Kwekwe District Development Coordinator Fortune Mupungu, who chairs the local CPU, described the accident as devastating and praised emergency services for their rapid response, which helped prevent a potential fire outbreak from the fuel tanker.

“We thank local authorities for mobilising resources, including fire tenders and ambulances. Tombs Motorways and Kwekwe Metals provided cranes, while police and army personnel were instrumental in the search and rescue efforts,” said Mupungu who is also the Kwekwe District Development Coordinator.

National police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the details of the crash, explaining that the fuel tanker first collided with the two-tonne truck before crashing head-on into the Nissan AD Van.

“The tanker dragged the AD Van for several metres before overturning and landing on top of it,” Nyathi said.

Comm. Nyathi said all the 12 occupants of the AD Van, were trapped and died on the spot, plunging the city of Kwekwe into mourning.