PASSENGERS who survived Saturday’s Smart Express Vumba bus
accident have blamed the driver for causing the mishap as they accused him of
drinking beer before the journey to Mutare.
However, the driver, who refused to be identified, quickly
dismissed the allegations and attributed the accident to a mechanical fault.
The accident occurred barely a year after another Smart
Express bus killed over 50 people along the Harare-Mutare Highway in a horrific
national disaster.
With 45 people on board while descending the steep Vumba
curves, the driver lost control of the bus at the 15km peg from Mutare at Lower
Vumba Gardens.
It landed on its right side, injuring 20 passengers who
were quickly rushed to hospital by guests who were attending a wedding nearby.
When The Manica Post arrived at the scene moments later, most
of the injured had been taken to hospital.
The visibly confused bus driver laboured to explain what
had happened.
“When I was negotiating a curve, I heard something breaking
under the bus and I knew it was the U-bolt. I lost control of the vehicle but I
managed to avoid hitting trees, otherwise people would have died,” he said.
When asked about his alleged beer drinking binge at
Chishakwe before the journey to Mutare he said: “I didn’t drink beer. These are
mere allegations.”
However, injured passengers were singing from a different
hymn book.
Precious Marigo who suffered some head and body injuries
said: “I boarded the bus at Tambawaguta bus stop after I had been told by a
passerby that the bus was delaying because the bus driver was drinking beer at
Chishakwe Business Centre.
“When I boarded the bus he (the driver) was shouting at
passengers to move fast because he was behind time. He was also speeding,
despite passengers discouraging him from doing so.”
A man who identified himself as the owner of the bus, Ken
Makosi, refused to comment on the accident and begged the reporter to drop the
story.
“Please don’t publish this story because it will tarnish
the image of our company. We will definitely do something for you,’’ he said.
Manica Post
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