Eleven people have died in a road traffic accident which
occurred at 4am, Thursday morning near the Ministry of Transport workshop in
Kamativi.
Ten died on the spot and the 11th one died at Kamativi
clinic while 119 were injured. The accident occurred when the passengers heard
a loud burst resulting in the driver losing control of the vehicle.
The 10-tonne truck was carrying 130 passengers from
Siabuwa, Binga to Hwange where they were scheduled to attend a church
conference.
According to one of the passengers who survived the
accident, Mr Clever Ncube, the driver acknowledged that the truck lost brakes
before they arrived in Binga.
However, due to the nagging from the passengers that they
need to arrive at the conference on time, they proceeded and got to Kamativi
where the situation worsened.
“We heard a loud burst so we were not sure whether it was
the brakes or the tyres. So the truck just veered off the road and overturned
and that’s where some of the church members died,” Ncube said.
The True Apostolic Mission pastor, Reverend Paul Mukucha
confirmed that the all the victims were attending a church conference organised
by his parish in Hwange.
“We were waiting for them in Hwange because we knew there
were church members coming all the way from Siabuwa. So this is just shocking
to us,” Reverend Mukucha said.
ZRP Officer Commanding Hwange District Chief Superintendent
Newton Mutumba confirmed the deaths saying all the injured passengers have been
taken to Kamativi clinic, St Patricks and Colliery hospital in Hwange where
they are now receiving treatment.
“In fact what is going to be happening is that most of the
injured passengers will be brought to Hwange for further treatment, especially
those whose condition is very bad. We also want to appeal to motorists that
they should desist from driving during odd hours as a way of avoiding police
road blocks,” he said.
Among the deceased are five females, four males and two
children.
Meanwhile, the names of the deceased are being withheld
until their next of kin have been informed.
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