City bar manager killed in accident

Mpumelelo Nyoni Chronicle Reporter
ONE person died on the spot while three others are battling for their lives in hospital after a vehicle they were travelling in veered off the road and overturned while trying to avoid a donkey along Khami Road near Bulawayo’s Matshobana suburb early on Sunday morning.A former headmaster at Usher High School, Clever Mavinga, 52, who was Esibayeni Bar manager at the time of his death, lost control of the Mitsubishi truck he was driving at around 1AM.

In an interview at Nketa 9 suburb where mourners were gathered, Mavinga’s cousin and family spokesperson, Lovemore Dube, expressed shock at his sudden death.

“As a family, we’re at a loss for words right now. We’ve been robbed of a hardworking man. He was in the process of completing renovations to his home and I was assisting him,” he said.

Dube said Mavinga was transporting workers to their homes after they had knocked off from the bar that is owned by prominent Bulawayo businessman Trevor Ncube, when the tragic accident occurred.

“He lost control of the truck and hit cables that were on the side of the road. The car overturned once and landed on its side. He died on the spot and the other passengers were flung out of the car, landing a few metres away,” said Dube.

A colleague who requested anonymity said stray donkeys were causing unnecessary loss of life on the country’s roads.

He urged the police to arrest owners of donkeys that were causing havoc in Bulawayo’s suburbs, saying they were violating council by-laws and the Road Traffic Act.

“It’s so painful that Mavinga died trying to avoid a donkey. Stray donkeys are now a cause for concern and to make matters worse, this is an area where people go,” said the colleague.