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died on Christmas Day last year when an overloaded boat owned by Chasura Boats capsized.
The girl narrated through a CCTV how Fadil Ramon Weale (27), who introduced himself as the boat captain, allegedly winked to the boat operator, Enock Yolani Zulu (36) who then switched off the engine.
She said Weale then told them to “kiss their lives goodbye” as they were going to die.
She alleged that Zulu waved at them and said, “Save your lives” before the two jumped out as the boat started sinking.
A woman in the gallery then shouted; “Muri maSatanists majaira kunwa ropa revanhu. (You are Satanists and you are used to sucking people’s blood.)”
Another woman who lost four children in the disaster wept sorrowfully.
“Vana vangu varipiko nhai veduwee-e, dai vari venyu mainzwa sei, muri mazimhondi, varoyi chaivo. (Where are my children you people? How would you feel if they were yours, you are murderers!)”
Presiding magistrate Mr Tendai Mahwe looked helplessly as almost everyone in the gallery including the girl cried prompting him to briefly adjourn.
Area public prosecutor Mr Jonathan Murombedzi and some police details immediately restrained people baying for the accused persons’ blood.
Proceedings resumed after about 20 minutes and the girl who lost four of her relatives continued with her testimony.
She said they got into the boat around 6pm and Joseph Abrahams loaded 19 people.
There were 21 people in the boat with three people sitting on a seat reserved for a single person.
“After loading us into the boat, the accused three (Abrahams) collected money and helped in pushing the boat which was failing to start due to overloading since we were now 21 in the boat including Weale and Zulu.
“We were not given life jackets and the boat took off. During the cruise, the driver asked us if we wanted to die and what we would do if we were to capsize.
“He also asked us if we could swim but my sister Sharon (deceased) told him not to say scary things.
“Zulu even asked us to top up money so that he would take us to the dam wall but changed his mind saying it was late for them to go to the dam wall.”
She said Weale then winked at Zulu when the boat had reached the middle of the dam.
“We heard a strange sound and the engine ceased. Weale told us to kiss our lives goodbye as we were about to die.
“Zulu then waved at us and told us to save ourselves before jumping into the water.”
She said water started filling the boat before it capsized.
“There were cries for help everywhere as people were drowning, I panicked and as I was still in a state of shock, I started swimming going back were we had came from and suddenly I felt something pulling my braids and later noticed it was a small child aged around two years who was holding onto my hair and I swum to the shore with her.”
She said at the shore, she saw Latif Ameer (53) the owner of the boat who was in the company of another man.
“He instructed the man he was with to ask us questions before the police arrive. He advised him to tell us what to say to the police,” she said.
The girl said she suffers from nightmares of people drowning and her sister shouting for help.
Prosecutor Mr Michael Reza asked the girl whether she had any reasons to fabricate stories against the accused.
She however insisted that she was telling the truth.
The accused, who are facing 11 counts of culpable homicide, have however denied the allegations.
Ameer and Weale are being represented by Mr Hamios Mukonoweshuro while Mr Jacob Jogee is appearing for Abrahams.
Zulu is not represented.
Through his lawyer, Ameer argued that he did not employ or authorise any of the accused persons to use his boat for the rides.
He said his was a fishing boat used by his family only.
Ameer said on that particular day he had invited his friends and relatives to the lake.
He said Abrahams and Weale were family members.
The boat, he said, was meant for carrying only his relatives.
Ameer said Zulu was a known resident in the dam’s vicinity who was once employed as a driver at a lodge.
“On that day I met Zulu and he inquired about a job as he was not working and I told him that my boat was now functioning and would let him know if something comes up. I never asked him to drive my boat.”
He said his mechanic had however reported that Zulu had driven off with the boat.
“I then ordered my mechanic to stop him but it was too late as he had already gone into the lake.
“I was surprised to hear that my boat had been involved in a fatal accident.”
He said he discovered that people had paid for the rides at the police station when Abrahams was questioned on the payments.
Abrahams had admitted collecting US$45 from the passengers.
Weale denied introducing himself as the boat captain arguing that he was a mere passenger in his uncle’s boat.
He said that Zulu came into the boat which had Ameers family members and an argument arose between him and Julius Muranda (the mechanic).
“He insisted on driving the boat saying he had instructions from Ameer to drive the boat and Muranda together with three other family members disembarked.
“I failed to disembark due to the commotion and Zulu shouted that the boat was too full and could not start and people pushed it.
“I did not make any comments credited to me about people dying.”
He said the accident happened so fast that it was impossible for him to foresee or make the comments.
In his defence, Zulu, who was crying during the trial, said Ameer instructed him to drive his boat since his mechanic was drunk.
He said Ameer instructed him to take his relatives for a ride but met Abrahams who was loading people into the boat.
“As we were cruising, water started entering the boat but I told the occupants not to panic and indicated to them that they were only waves.”
He said when they were approaching Hunyani Hills he found himself overboard.
“I do not know what happened as I found myself in the water,” he said.
Abrahams, through his lawyers denied loading people in the boat.
He also denied receiving payments from the passengers.
Abrahams said he saw people jumping into the boat that was being operated by Zulu.
He said most people were drunk while push-starting the boat.
Abrahams said another boat crew advised them after 45 minutes that the boat had capsized.
He said they jumped into the boat and headed for Hunyani Hills where they found three survivors.
The trial continues today, with the lawyers cross-examining the witness.
Allegations are that on December 25 last year, Ameer approached Zulu and asked him to drive the boat.
Ameer assigned Weale to collect money from passengers before they got into the boat and supervise the passengers.
He allegedly failed to provide life jackets to passengers in the boat.
Abrahams, the State said, loaded 17 passengers in a boat with a capacity to carry six passengers.
Ameer allegedly instructed Zulu to drive the boat with passengers without life jackets.
Zulu, it is alleged, did not have a license to drive the boat, but drove it into Lake Chivero around 6:10 pm.
As the boat was in the middle of the lake, water started getting in and passengers panicked and moved to one side.
The overloaded boat capsized, causing the death of 11 passengers.
Two more survivors are expected to testify today.
Online Reporter