Harare-Nyamapanda highway accident victims named

By Archford Chirimudombo

MARONDERA- Names of five of the seven people who perished in a road accident that occurred near Mutoko last week have been released by the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP).

The fatal accident occurred 120 kilometres from Harare along the Nyamapanda highway when a Toyota Quantum travelling towards Harare reportedly burst its front right tyre, resulting in the driver losing control and veered off the road hitting a tree.

Resultantly, seven people died on the spot while five others sustained varying degrees of injuries. In a statement, national police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the accident. He said: “Five of the seven victims were identified by their next of kin as Michael Mugandani (36), Innocent Nyamukondiwa (37), Edith Musorowembudzi (36), Dumisani Mutsawa (33) and Mabhebhe Chingamuka (6).

“The remaining two are yet to be identified by their next of kin. The injured are admitted at Murewa district hospital while the bodies of the deceased were taken to Mutoko hospital mortuary for postmortem. “The Zimbabwe Republic Police reiterates that motorists should observe stipulated speed limits and abide by the road rules and regulations in order to save human lives.”

The Harare-Nyamapanda highway accident came hardly a week after another fatal accident which claimed five lives 32 kilometres from Harare on the Mutare highway, near the popular Mutangadura entertainment centre.

Police investigations established that a Freightliner truck which was travelling towards Marondera using the outer lane suddenly turned into the inner lane in front of a Tenda bus which was travelling towards Marondera with 56 passengers on board.

It was reported that the Tenda bus was about to overtake the haulage truck and unfortunately, the bus hit the trailer of the haulage truck before swerving onto the lane of oncoming traffic where it collided with the Phils and Pats Bus which was travelling towards Harare with 25 passengers.

As a result, four people were killed while 14 others were injured. A few weeks ago, the province also recorded another fatal accident which saw 16 people losing their lives.

In this accident which was declared a national disaster, a Mercedes Benz Sprinter in which the victims were travelling in, collided with a haulage truck 52 kilometre from Harare on the Masvingo highway, near Beatrice.

The sixteen were travelling to Mvuma for a church gathering.

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