Online Reporter
Arron Nyamayaro
THE family of one of the three men who were killed in a work-related accident in Harare on Wednesday say they have lost a deeply-religious breadwinner who was the only son in a family of four.
Chenjerai Tafirenyika, a member of the Faith Apostolic Church, died alongside his colleagues — Wonderful Mubaiwa and Washington Mashuzha — after pallets of reflective glass panels fell on them at their workplace.
The three, who had been hired to work for Good Five Aluminium and Glasses, died instantly in the Workington Industrial area of Harare.
The accident happened at around midday along Coventry Road.
National police spokesperson, Commissioner Paul Nyathi, said the three had been hired to offload reflective glasses at the firm, when tragedy struck.
Tafirenyika was a resident of Mbare, Mubaiwa was a resident of Budiriro 3 and Mashuzha was a resident of Epworth.
Tafirenyika’s family, who visited the scene of the tragedy yesterday, described him as a pillar of strength for the family.
Family spokesperson, George Masungo, said Tafirenyika was a devoted member of the Apostolic United Church.
“We have lost a young and dedicated man, the breadwinner and a promising leader, considering how devoted he was to his church duties,” Masungo said.
“He was the first-born in a family of four children and the only son.”
Masungo said Tafirenyika had always wanted to give his parents a comfortable life before he could tie himself to marriage.
However, all the dreams he had were destroyed in that tragic moment on Wednesday.
“He was supporting his mother’s projects based at a village in Buhera,” he said.
Masungo said Tafirenyika will be laid to rest at Nhidza village under Chief Nyashanu in Buhera.
Commissioner Nyathi said more details will be released in due course.
“The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) reports a sad incident which occurred at around 1200 hours at a company along Coventry Road, Harare,” he said.
“Three people died on the spot after being struck by a pallet of glass panels which they were offloading from a truck.”
National Social Security Authority (NSSA) officials were among the people who visited the site where three workers died instantly after pallets of reflective glass panels fell on them at Good Five Aluminium and Glasses on Wednesday in Workington industry.
The officials, led by Ronald Mapowo, attended the scene together with members of the Fire Brigade led by Officer-in-Charge Harare Division, Tendai Mberikunashe.
An eyewitness told H-Metro, the company received a consignment of ten pallets of grey reflective glasses, weighing approximately three tonnes each.
The manager, the witness said, hired eight men from outside the gate to offload the consignment from the container.
The truck carrying the goods was a 30-tonne vehicle driven by Aaron Kumbula, employed by Quick Hall Transport Services.
“All the eight men entered inside the container creating space for the crane to offload the pallets,” the eyewitness said.
“During the process, one of the glass pallets slipped and struck the three who were offloading the goods.”
The eyewitness added that the three died on the spot from the impact.
“The three had small cuts and bruises on their necks,” he said.
National Social Security Authority (NSSA) officials visited the site of the tragedy yesterday.
The officials, led by Ronald Mapowo, attended the scene together with members of the Harare Fire Brigade, led by Officer-in-Charge Harare Division, Tendai Mberikunashe.
Mathew Masinge