Harare October (New Ziana)-The government will assist the bereaved families of the six people who died last Friday when a Rio Zim Cessna 206 plane they were travelling in crashed in the Zvamahande area near Mashava, Masvingo province, a cabinet Minister has said.

The small aircraft was travelling from Harare to Murowa Diamond mine in
Zvishavane, the Midlands province when the accident happened. It is
suspected that the plane developed a mechanical fault before it crashed
and broke into pieces on impact around 7AM on the fateful day.

Speaking at a post Cabinet media briefing, Information, Publicity and
Broadcasting Services Minister Jenfan Muswere said the National Civil
Protection Fund is being used to assist the bereaved families.

“On the Mashava plane crash, Cabinet informs the public that the RioZim
plane had six male persons on board and was travelling from Harare to
Murowa Diamonds. The National Civil Protection Fund is being used to
assist the bereaved families.

“Government, through the Civil Protection Unit is meeting the following
costs; forensic examination and DNA testing of the remains of the
deceased persons, providing funeral assistance and psychosocial support
to the bereaved families,” said Muswere, while also extending cabinet’s
condolences to the bereaved families.

On Tuesday police released the names of five of the deceased as Reginald
Muchemwa (38) who was the pilot, Gerald Sibanda (51) Nikhli Mahadik
Milind (age not given), Harpla Singh Randhawa (60) and his son Amer
Singh Randhawa whose age was not given.

Police are working with relevant institutions to identify the sixth
victim, who is believed to have come to Zimbabwe as a visitor.

New Ziana