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Victor Maphosa-Mashonaland East Bureau
A sombre atmosphere engulfed the Ruzane community on Saturday during the burial of four people from the Marerwa family who died in a road accident last week.
The four were part of the seven people who died when the driver of a commuter omnibus they were travelling in lost control, resulting in it veering off the road and rolling several times before landing on its wheels.
The horrific accident, which occurred at the 5km peg along the Hwedza-Mutiweshiri Road last Wednesday, saw six people dying on the spot while the seventh died on admission to Mt St Mary’s Hospital.
The passengers, including the driver, were coming from burying a relative when the accident occurred. The Government then moved in to assist with the burials.
From the Marerwa family, Evan (37), Liberty (31), Panashe Naison (24) and Mendy (12) were buried in Hwedza.
Two others were also buried on Saturday, with Ethel Mhina interred at Zororo Cemetery in Chitungwiza and Wirimai Munhuuripi in Murehwa.
The seventh victim, Yvonne Meki, is expected to be buried today in Glendale, Mashonaland Central province.
The burial ceremony in Hwedza was attended by senior Government officials and Zanu PF officials and supporters from Mashonaland East.
An eye-witness, Mr Admire Dhliwayo, who is the assistant District Development Coordinator (DDC) for Hwedza, said: “I was travelling to a funeral together with my three colleagues in a RIDA (Rural Infrastructural Development Agency) truck when l came across a kombi travelling towards the opposite direction along the Hwedza-Mutiweshiri Road.
“On approaching the 5km peg, l realised the driver of the kombi had lost control of while negotiating a sharp curve, and he swerved and encroached into our lane and then veered off the road.
“Sensing danger, our vehicle reduced speed and before we could stop, the kombi driver tried to get the kombi back onto the road and that is the moment it overturned three times, throwing people out in the process.”
Mr Dhliwayo said he quickly alerted the police and officials from the Ministry of Health and Child Care in the district.
“I disembarked from my vehicle, ran to the scene to assess the situation. It was a sad scene, injured people were scattered all over the place, but I think one person who had a deep cut on the head was already dead.
“Some were crying. It was a painful sight and being the District Civil Protection Committee chairman, l quickly called the police and health officials to attend the scene.
“With the support of other people who had already gathered at this horrendous scene, we used our vehicle to transport these people to the hospital.
“Moments later police officers and health officials arrived to assist. I also observed that the driver of the vehicle was not visibly injured but was moving up and down at the scene and appeared confused,” said Mr Dhliwayo.
He thanked the Government for assisting the bereaved families in burying their loved ones.
Each family received a coffin and 14x50kg bags of grain as support from the Government.
Online Reporter