Online Reporter
Victor Maphosa in CHIVHU
IN a month already shadowed by grief, President Mnangagwa yesterday declared a State of Disaster following a horrific head-on collision on Friday evening near Chivhu that claimed 27 lives.
The accident occurred at approximately 8.30pm along the Harare-Masvingo highway, near Honeyspruit Bridge, in Chikomba district.
A heavy truck carrying mining equipment from South Africa, destined for Goromonzi district, collided head-on with a commuter omnibus carrying members of the African Apostolic (Mwazha) Church who were travelling from Dema to Ndarikure in Mvuma for a church conference.
The impact was catastrophic, resulting in an immediate fire that trapped several occupants inside the kombi, with some sustaining fatal burns.
Emergency responders and local community members used small cranes and fire equipment to rescue survivors and recover victims from the wreckage.
While the truck driver survived, the driver of the kombi perished on impact.
As of yesterday, 27 people had been confirmed dead.
Twenty-four died on the spot, while three others succumbed to their injuries upon arrival at Chivhu General Hospital.
Seven other people sustained critical injuries and have since been transferred to Chitungwiza Central Hospital.
There are indications the commuter omnibus was overloaded, carrying as many as 34 passengers.
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In a statement yesterday, Local Government and Public Works Minister Daniel Garwe — who is the chairperson of the Cabinet Committee on Environment, Emergency Preparedness, Disaster Prevention and Management — announced that President Mnangagwa had, in terms of Section 27(1) of the Civil Protection Act, declared a State of Disaster.
The declaration will enable the Government to mobilise the necessary resources and coordinate appropriate interventions to assist the affected families and survivors.
The Government extended its deepest condolences to the bereaved families, relatives, friends and members of the African Apostolic (Mwazha) Church following this tragic loss of life.
The Government also wished those injured a speedy and full recovery and assured the nation that all necessary measures were being taken to provide assistance.
“His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Cde Dr E.D. Mnangagwa, has, in terms of Section 27(1) of the Civil Protection Act (Chapter 10:06), declared a State of Disaster following a fatal road traffic accident which occurred along the Harare-Masvingo highway, near Honeyspruit Bridge, in Chikomba district, Mashonaland East province,” Minister Garwe said.
“Civil Protection structures, working together with members of the public from Chivhu, responded swiftly to the accident and conducted search, rescue and recovery operations. Small cranes were used in the recovery of victims, while a fire tender was deployed to extinguish the fire. The heavy truck and mining equipment, which had blocked the entire carriageway, have since been removed using a heavy-duty crane, and the road is now fully passable to traffic.”
Civil Protection Unit chief director Mr Nathan Nkomo said of the deceased, 22 had since been identified, while five would be identified through DNA tests by the Zimbabwe Republic Police’s forensic department as they were burnt beyond recognition.
“And Government is also going to take care of all their medical bills, since His Excellency, the President, Dr E.D. Mnangagwa, has declared this a State of Disaster,” he said.
A husband’s anguish
For Mr Emmanuel Bonda, the tragedy is deeply personal.
He lost his wife and three children in the accident.
Recalling his last conversation with his wife before she departed, he said: “She packed her clothes and the children’s things around noon, and by 2pm they were in the kombi. She complained that the vehicle was already overloaded and even asked if I knew anyone else driving to the conference who could offer them a lift . . . I wished them a safe journey.”
Later that evening, his concern grew when his wife failed to answer her phone.
The tragic news came shortly after from fellow church members already in Mvuma.
“I informed my workmates and they assisted me to get to the accident scene,” he added.
“We were told that some people were injured and were rushed to hospital and we could only see them on the next day. Today (yesterday), we went to the hospital and that is when I was told that a lot of people had died.
“The first person I identified was my son, then others. I am so hurt. Losing my entire family just like that is unbearable.”
Mr Albert Magiya from Dema lost his wife and five children in the fatal collision.
“We planned to go to the conference with my wife, but at the last minute, my sixth sense told me not to go. I even tried to convince my wife and children to abort the trip, but they insisted on going,” he said.
“So, together we went to the bus stop; that is when I saw that the kombi was overloaded. I then again tried to convince them not to go but they still insisted on going to the conference. So, I told them that I would be using a bus to Mvuma.”
Mr Magiya said he later boarded a long-distance bus, but along the way, he was met by the horrific accident that claimed his family.
“Along the way, before reaching Chivhu centre, there was a traffic jam and after a few minutes, we reached the accident scene. We disembarked from the bus just to check and that is when I realised that it was the same kombi which had my family. My wife was there, still alive, but later died. I could not do anything to save her. I also saw my four children outside the kombi, lifeless. But I could not see my other child. I am sure she is among the five who were burnt beyond recognition. My hope is for the forensic team to identify her so that I can give all of them a proper burial. I am so hurt. My wife and kids are gone.”
Africa Apostolic Church general secretary Bishop Misheck Tazvivinga thanked President Mnangagwa for declaring the tragedy a State of Disaster.
“Our members were going to a church conference when they were involved in an accident. This has never happened in our church. This is too much for us as a church,” he said.
“When I arrived at the scene, the kombi was still burning, bodies were lying on the side of the road. It was horrifying. I saw people burning, seven of them.
“I want to console the bereaved families. As a church, we are saddened by this incident. I want to thank Government for the assistance; this will go a long way in giving our members a decent burial.”
The latest disaster comes in a month when the country is still mourning the 97 people who died in the Kariba ferry disaster.
