Train crush victims

BEITBRIDGE residents on Monday morning woke up to the tragic discovery that a
man and woman had been crushed to death by a goods train while they were
sleeping on the rail tracks, some 73 kilometres from the border.
The two identified as Carmore Chauke (34) of Joseph Village under Chief Negari in
Mwenezi and Jennipha Gonodema of Mazare Village under Headman Mutimurefu.
Beitbridge head of Police, Chief Superintendent Tichaona Nyongo, confirmed the
accident and said no foul play was suspected.
"Our investigations show that the train driver saw an object on the line and blew his
horn but only managed to stop his train water running over the object, he said.
The train driver, identified as Tafara Zingwanda, made a report to police who
attended the scene, he said.
Mutilated remains of the two were collected and taken to Beitbridge Hospital
mortuary.
The train coming from Rutenga was pulling 13 empty fuel wagons when the accident
occurred around 1am at the 73 kilometre peg, said Chief Superintendent Nyongo
We heard the driver tried to stop the train after seeing the object but did not manage
until after hitting the object which turned out to be the two people, he said without
giving further information.
This newspaper, however, established that two used condoms were found at the
accident scene, suggesting the two may have fallen asleep and did not hear the
train.
Pictures circulating on social media in Beitbridge showed badly mutilated bodies with
the face of the woman thrown metres from the rail tracks, while their bodies with
multiple fractures were strewn metres apart.
It is understood police also found a wallet with identities, passport of the woman and
some cash dismissing a general belief they could have been attacked by robbers
and placed on the line.
A relative said the guard at the Bitumen World camp said Chauke was employed by
that company and took out a mattress on which the pair was sleeping on the tragic
night, said a relative of the man.
Unconfirmed reports said the woman had just arrived from South Africa, where she
lived with her husband. She proceeded to see her lover, where they met their fate.