Beitbridge crash: 3 bodies still to be identified

Thupeyo Muleya Beitbridge Bureau
THE identities of three passengers out of the 12 who died when an MB Transport bus collided head-on with a haulage truck along the Masvingo- Beitbridge highway on Friday are still unknown as they were not carrying identity particulars. The accident occurred 45km outside Beitbridge town. Police have so far identified; Mavis Mutizwa (28), Belinda Chapeyama (one year, 10 months baby), Elizabeth Musona (26), Melody Muchaneta Dzongodza (29) all of Beitbridge; Irene Mukuto (30) of Highfield (Harare), Aslum Masvovere (29) of Mbizo (Kwekwe) and Ranganayi Garu (23) of Chitungwiza.

Government has since declared the accident a national disaster.

Beitbridge Civil Protection unit chairperson Mr Simon Muleya said so far five bodies had been collected for burial and police were making frantic efforts to identity three more people who were undocumented.

“We received nine coffins from Doves Funeral Services and so far we have handed over five bodies to relatives of the deceased.

“The police are yet to establish the next of kin of three more people who were in the bus. The grieving families are each getting $500 ($200 from Government and $300 from MB Transport owner, Brain Mungofa) for burial,” he said.

Mr Muleya said the CPU was working with other stakeholders to ensure that the victims received dignified burials.

He said 13 people with critical injuries were still admitted at United Bulawayo Hospitals while 19 others were receiving treatment at Beitbridge District Hospital.

Doves Funeral Services’ regional manager for Matabeleland Mr Joseph Sithole said they donated nine coffins to victims who were in the bus as the company’s social responsibility programme.

“We want to extend our heartfelt condolences to the grieving families and we have decided to donate some coffins to the people of Beitbridge at their greatest hour of need,” he said.

The police officer in charge of crime in Beitbridge District, Assistant Commissioner Bobby Murwira, said the bus was travelling from Harare with 51 passengers on board.

“Upon reaching the 242km along the Masvingo-Beitbridge road the bus hit a donkey and swerved to the side of an oncoming truck resulting in a head-on collision that killed 10 people on the spot. Two other people died upon admission at Beitbridge District Hospital,” he said.