Harare (New Ziana) -President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Sunday sent condolences to families and relatives who lost their beloved ones in the horrific traffic accident involving a passenger bus and a fuel tanker along the Harare-Mutare Highway on Christmas Eve.

Five people died in the accident while 66 others sustained injuries when a bus with 69 passengers collided with a fuel tanker.

In his condolence message, President Mnangagwa reminded motorists to exercise extreme caution as they travel to various destinations during the Christmas and New Year break.

“Our gradually improving highways and trunk roads should never be an excuse for reckless behaviour by any road-user, in the process endangering or even hurting others,” he said.

The President paid tribute to Sirizani Butau, the man who rescued 8 passengers from the raging fire.

” In wishing speedy recovery to all those recuperating from injuries and burns from this horrific traffic accident, I am heartened by the life-saving and public spiritedness shown by other road users and communities who witnessed the fatal mishap.

” In particular, I was struck by the outstanding bravery of one of our citizens, Sirizani Butau, who defied personal safety to help with the rescue effort, in the process sustaining several burns and injuries. Without him and many others who rose to the occasion, many more lives could have been hurt or even lost.

“Our Nation honours such great deeds which should never go unnoticed and uncelebrated. Indeed, these deeds cultivate and impart great compassion to our Nation, thus confirming our humanity as a people,”said President Mnangagwa.

Addressing a 2021 thanksgiving and dedication church service in Bulawayo earlier, President Mnangagwa said Butau demonstrated ‘Christ like selflessness, bravery and love, even at the risk of losing his own life’.

New Ziana