Online Reporter
Bongani Ndlovu and Sikhumbuzo Moyo
TWELVE bodies have been recovered following a fatal explosion involving a Toyota Quantum at the 27km peg along Bulawayo–Beitbridge Road near Esigodini on Thursday afternoon, police have confirmed.
President Mnangagwa has since declared the accident a “State of Disaster”, paving way for the Government to cover funeral and medical expenses for the deceased and survivors.
Of the 12 victims, nine have since been positively identified by their next of kin, while efforts to identify the remaining three are ongoing.
The identified bodies are for Thabani Moyo (37) of Old Lobengula, Nobuhle Mdlongwa (37) of Entumbane, Oscar Mdlongwa (44), Sicelesile Mabhena of Nkulumane 5, Sibusiso Mabhena (5) of Nkulumane 5, Mhlupeki Limkani Sibanda (36) of Nkulumane 5, Tedious Ncube, Precious Moyo (36) of Pumula North and Promise Brian Gabadela.
In a statement, Zimbabwe Republic Police spokesperson, Commissioner Paul Nyathi, said the incident occurred on April 16 at around 12.45pm when the vehicle, which was carrying 11 passengers, exploded.
“The police has established that 12 people were killed after a Toyota Quantum exploded,” reads part of the statement.
Authorities said the bodies were taken to United Bulawayo Hospitals mortuary for post-mortem.
Police have indicated that investigations into the cause of the explosion are still underway, with more details expected to be released in due course.
Yesterday morning, Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister, Felix Mhona, visited the accident scene, accompanied by the Zimbabwe Civil Protection Unit director-general Mr Nathan Nkomo, Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe managing director Mr Munesu Munodawafa, and two board members.
Also present was Matabeleland South deputy officer commanding, Assistant Commissioner Didymus Sakarombe.
Minister Mhona expressed grief over the loss of life and urged the public to desist from taking photos and videos of victims and sharing them online.
“We need to respect the dead, but we are seeing that as soon as an accident happens, videos begin circulating. Please let us refrain from that,” said Minister Mhona.
He warned that the circulation of such graphic content can have devastating emotional consequences.
“There is a danger that some relatives who may come across those videos could succumb to shock,” he said.
Minister Mhona said it was disturbing that the nation had been plunged into mourning barely a few weeks after two families perished on the country’s roads.
“I humbly plead again with the people of Zimbabwe that as we partake on our journey, let us take cognisant of the fact that life is so precious and we must uphold road safety,” he said.
The minister expressed disappointment that despite persistent campaigns, the country continues to lose lives on roads, largely due to human error.
TSCZ managing director Mr Munodawafa also appealed to the motoring public to avoid carrying items that have the potential of exploding after the Toyota Quantum was suspected to have been carrying explosives, according to preliminary investigations.
CPU director, Mr Nkomo, clarified that the declaration of a State of Disaster means that the Government must meet funeral or medical costs for all those involved.
“When His Excellency declared a State of Disaster pertaining to this accident, he meant that all those who were bereaved or if there were any people who were injured, the State must respond by assisting with the burial of the deceased, while for those injured, the State must also intervene by paying all the medical bills,” said Mr Nkomo.
He, however, said the Civil Protection Act does not have a provision for compensation for the remaining members of the family.
“The only assistance we can give to the families is through the provision of food, but there is no compensation in the Civil Protection Act. However, I am sure once the Accident Fund Bill goes through Parliament and is given assent by the President, those are the things that will have to be considered,” said Mr Nkomo.
Meanwhile, Best Funerals Services, whose sticker was on the ill-fated vehicle, has denied ownership of the vehicle.
In an interview yesterday, company director Mr Thembani Ndlovu, said they sometimes outsourced vehicles and just put stickers for marketing purposes
“That vehicle is not ours. We didn’t have any funeral for Zimbabwe. We have previously hired the vehicle yes, but it’s not ours. Instead of removing our sticker, they kept it there,” said Mr Ndlovu.
