A young, promising life cut short in crash

Fatima Bulla-Musakwa

TWENTY-TWO-YEAR-OLD Promise Makopo was a sociable and personable individual, who was well-known in Mazowe, Mashonaland Central province.

To his mother, he was more than a son, as he had defied his age to become a pillar of support, helping to fend for his four siblings.

He eked out a living as an artisanal miner, who also doubled up as a taxi driver plying the Mazowe Inn bus stop-Jumbo route.

At one time, the route was incredibly busy owing to the Jumbo Mine gold rush.

Just like his name, his life was believed to be full of promise; however, it was brutally cut short in the wee hours of December 18, 2023 through a road traffic accident that also claimed eight other lives.

His mother Ms Patience Mudodo still vividly remembers the last moments she shared with him a day before fate dealt her a cruel hand.

“He said he wanted to become a truck driver in South Africa, but I asked if he had managed to collect his passport. His response was vague . . . After that conversation, he left for the taxi rank and took photographs with many of his colleagues, telling them about his plans to leave for South Africa,” said Ms Mudodo.

That afternoon, as per his daily routine, he ferried passengers on the familiar route.

After toiling for the day, he bade farewell to his mother in the evening for an outing with his friends at the local shopping centre, which is popularly known as Nduku Shops.

They played snooker late into the night.

“His friends lived in Glendale, which is about 20 kilometres away. They asked him to take them there. I advised him to let his friends sleep over, but he insisted on driving them home. Hours later, we received a call that Promise had died in an accident,” said the distraught mother.

The accident happened when two Honda Fit vehicles, including Promise’s, collided near the Mazowe Citrus Estate, along the Harare-Bindura highway.

Tragically, nine people, including six family members and Promise, died in the accident.

“It was around 2am when I received a call from an unknown number. The male voice said he had seen the number plate of Promise’s vehicle at the scene of the accident. The car was burning. I then arranged to meet the caller, who took me to the scene. What I saw was beyond comprehension. The police were already there and the Honda Fit was engulfed in flames. The engine of the vehicle had been dislodged, maybe by the impact, because it looked as if it had been hit on the fuel tank.”

But Promise had earlier been pulled out of the burning vehicle by an individual who had recognised him.

The Good Samaritan broke the window of the Honda Fit and managed to open the door to pull him out.

He was subsequently rushed to the Mazowe Citrus Estate Hospital.

“I was referred to the matron who identified him. I was told that upon arrival, Promise had been restless, saying he was burning. The moment they held him to calm him down was when he just went quiet and passed away,” she said.

Since Promise was a sociable person, his death deeply pained those who interacted with him in Mazowe.

His mother described him as a hardworking young man, who related well with the community.

Although it has been about nine months since the accident, the anguish of losing a son remains excruciatingly painful for her.

“That is really painful. I am traumatised by those who also call me ‘Mai Promise’. Some are not yet aware that he died. However, I am grateful that Minister Kazembe Kazembe (who is also the Mazowe West Member of Parliament) helped ensure all the deceased were assisted all the way. Doves offered coffins and Nyaradzo                               also called us to reimburse money that we had not claimed, which significantly assisted us.

“I also think we need a fund that sustains people affected by accidents,” Ms Mudodo added.

Her word of advice to the motoring public is for them to take time to rest, especially for drivers plying long-distance routes.

According to the Zimbabwe Republic Police, the major causes of accidents include human error, notably inattention; misjudgement; overtaking mistakes; and failure to observe road rules and regulations.