malvernmugadzikwa
George Maponga in MASVINGO
The Government, through the Department of Civil Protection, will assist with the burial of nine people who perished in the Chikozho bus accident near the Topora Business Centre in Masvingo Central on Friday evening.
Nine people died — six of them on the spot and three in hospital — after an overloaded Chikozho bus veered off the road before landing on its side along the Masvingo-Chatikobo road, near Lake Mutirikwi.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the bus did not have a functional brake system, and as a result, the driver lost control of the vehicle while negotiating a steep hill near the business centre.
Masvingo Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Ezra Chadzamira and members of the Joint Operations Command yesterday visited the injured victims at Masvingo Provincial Hospital.
Fourteen people who were injured in the crash were admitted to the provincial hospital, and 16 others to Morgenster Mission Hospital.
Minister Chadzamira, who spoke to some of the injured victims and wished them speedy recovery, said: “I was here (Masvingo Provincial Hospital) to see some of the victims of the Chikozho bus accident and . . . they are getting treatment so that they can recover. I noticed that, while some of them are in pain, generally, their condition is stable and we hope they will all recover.
“We will assist in the burial of those who perished in the crash and the CPU (Civil Protection Unit) is currently running around to see the kind of assistance that will be extended.”
Officer Commanding Masvingo province, Commissioner Crispen Charumbira, said the police are continuing investigations into the accident.
“The number of people who have died in the Chikozho bus accident has now reached nine after two more people died in hospital. Sixty-five people were treated at Topora Clinic after suffering minor injuries and were discharged. We now have 30 people who are still admitted in hospital at Masvingo Provincial and Morgenster Mission hospitals and their condition is stable.
“The bus has been taken to VID (Vehicle Inspectorate Department) for further investigations and what is troubling is that not only was the bus carrying 105 passengers, but there was also an as yet unverified number of people on top of the bus, on the carrier,” he said.
Speaking from his hospital bed at Masvingo Provincial Hospital, Mr Kudzanayi Kwangware, of Munamati village in Murinye, said he sustained injuries on his spinal cord after he was thrown off the bus carrier where he was seated.
“I was seated on the carrier because the bus was overloaded, and when the bus crashed, I was thrown to the ground. I feel pain in the spine and the bad thing is that I have not been attended to by a medical doctor ever since I arrived here yesterday (Friday evening).”
Another survivor, Mr Ananias Matsuto, of Hwendedzo, who sustained severe injuries on both arms, said he was lucky to be alive.
Meanwhile, police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi last night released names of the people who died in the Chikozho bus accident.
The victims are Ishmael Mukanganikwi (50), of Taruvinga village, Murinye, Masvingo; Anna Jera (24), of Mutsa village, Murinye, Masvingo; Munodawafa Gwehe (49), of Gwehe village, Murinye, Masvingo; and Elias Gwehe (52), of Gwehe village, Murinye, Masvingo.
Others are Elijah Moyo (30), of Chigara village, Neshuro, Masvingo; Koke Chishas (35), of Zinhumwe village, Nemauzhe, Chivi; Philimon Mapurisa (19), of Munda village, Murinye, Masvingo; Tawedzerwa Manatsa (33), of Tsvonono village, Nyakunhuwa, Zaka; and Wellington Machingura (75), of Machingura village, Murinye.
Online Reporter