adminand a police officer, were killed while 15 others were injured when the vehicles they were travelling in were involved in an accident along the Beitbridge-Masvingo road, police confirmed yesterday.
Provincial police spokesperson for Matabeleland South Inspector Philisani Ndebele said the accident occurred on Friday at around 9.30pm at the 262km peg near Lutumba Business Centre, a few kilometres out of Beitbridge town.
“Our preliminary investigations indicate that a Mazda BT50 belonging to Zimra, which was being driven by Timothy Murungweni, was heading towards Lutumba tollgate with three passengers onboard.
“It looks like on approaching the 262km peg, the vehicle side-swiped with a Nissan Caravan, which was coming from the opposite direction and Murungweni lost control of the vehicle resulting in him ramming into an oncoming Toyota Iveco and the two vehicles overturned, killing three people on the spot,” he said.
The fourth victim died on admission to the Beitbridge District Hospital while the bodies of the deceased were taken to the same hospital’s mortuary.
The injured were also admitted to the same hospital.
Insp Ndebele identified the deceased persons as Eunice Lunga (28), Colleen Moyo (45), both Zimra cashiers, Winterton Zungura (36) and Norman Marashe, police officer whose age was not given.
Lunga and Moyo were buried at Makakavhule Cemetery in the border town yesterday.
Lunga, Moyo and Marashe were on their way to work for a night shift at Lutumba tollgate, about 25km out of Beitbridge.
Insp Ndebele said the wreckages of the two vehicles have since been taken to the Vehicle Inspection Depot in Beitbridge, adding that they were still investigating.
“As police we suspect that there could be an element of speeding on the part of the drivers involved, but we are still investigating. We also continue to urge motorists to desist from speeding especially at night to avoid the recurrence of such incidents,” said the police spokesperson.
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter