Online Reporter
Raymond Jaravaza [email protected]
A section of the Bulawayo-Gweru Highway in the Mbembesi area has, over the years, earned an infamous reputation as a “black spot”, a deadly stretch of road that has claimed the lives of numerous prominent figures and ordinary citizens in horrific motor accidents.
The latest tragedy struck on Thursday night, claiming the lives of three Highlanders Football Club executives and a female supporter.
The victims — club chairman Kenneth Mhlophe, vice-chairman Sifiso Siziba, treasurer Nkani Khoza, and Bosso member Mbalenhle Sibanda — were killed when their Ford Raptor was involved in a severe collision roughly 60 kilometres outside Bulawayo. They were returning to Bulawayo from Kariba, where the team had suffered a 1-0 defeat to ZPC Kariba in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match on Wednesday afternoon.
This particular stretch of highway has long been notorious for deadly crashes, many of which have involved stray livestock wandering onto the road from nearby farms. Yesterday afternoon, several hours after the latest accident, a
Zimpapers news crew observed the carcass of a cow being removed from the scene, just metres from the wreckage.
Preliminary reports suggest that the Ford Raptor, travelling towards Bulawayo, struck the animal before swerving into the path of an oncoming bus, resulting in a head-on collision. The force of the impact reportedly threw one occupant from the vehicle; the victim was then struck by a Nissan travelling behind.
The area’s grim history includes the August 2013 death of former National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) general manager and freedom fighter Air Commodore (Retired) Mike Tichafa Karakadzai, who was 56 and later declared a national hero. His car hit a stray cow, veered right, and side-swiped an oncoming haulage truck near the 79km peg, just past the Shangani Mine turn-off flyover.
In September 2016, founder of His Presence Ministries International, Apostle Charles Chiriseri, died in a car accident in Mbembesi while travelling with his wife, who survived. The couple was on their way to Bulawayo for a funeral when the crash occurred.
Most recently, in October of last year, opposition legislator Desire Moyo died on the spot after the vehicle he was travelling in struck an elephant along the same road. He and four other MPs were en route to Bulawayo when the accident happened; his colleagues sustained injuries.
Numerous other accidents involving both private and public vehicles have occurred on this stretch, resulting in further loss of life. While driver error remains a concern, stakeholders have increasingly called for permanent measures to address the persistent danger of stray domestic and wild animals in the area. In its response, the
Zimbabwe Republic Police said it has noted with concern the increase in fatal road traffic accidents occurring during the night throughout the country, especially on the highways, and noted the challenge of stray animals.
“This is even made worse by animals such as cattle, donkeys and others which are criss-crossing the roads and posing serious danger to motorists,” reads the police statement.
“Some farmers are also contributing to the accidents by driving cattle through the roads or leaving cattle to graze on road verges, leading to road traffic accidents.
“The Zimbabwe Republic Police totally discourages Zimbabweans from travelling or driving at night. Instead, families, football teams, individual drivers and institutions should plan journeys to curtail road carnage.”
Wild game, cows and donkeys are known to roam to and from their habitats in an area now occupied by resettled farming households bordering the Insiza North and Umguza territories, who have built their homes along the highway.
The issue continues to dominate social media debates with members of the public calling for a permanent solution, involving farmers and road authorities in keeping stray animals away from the roads.
Local farmer and Lochard village community member Mr Leonard Moyo said most parts of a fence that was installed by Government are still intact, but some community members leave the gates open, resulting in livestock straying onto the highway.
“It’s sad that a lot of lives are being lost because of stray livestock, especially cattle that roam along the highway in search of the green grass that is still available next to the tarred road,” he said.
“As farmers, we also stand to lose when our cattle are hit by vehicles, so we try to ensure that the gates that lead to our villages are closed at all times.
“It’s unfortunate that some community members leave the gates open and our cattle stay along the highway. The accident that happened last night (Thursday) could have been avoided had that cow not wandered along the highway,” said Mr Moyo.
Wrote Bhekilizwe Ndlovu on his Facebook account: “Owners of domestic animals must be held legally responsible for ensuring that their animals do not roam onto public roads. “Our roads should, by law, be no-go areas for unattended domestic animals, with meaningful penalties for negligence.
“This is not about punishing farmers or animal owners. It is about protecting human life while encouraging responsible animal ownership.”
Meanwhile, passengers who were in the bus that was involved in the accident that killed the Highlanders members were, by yesterday afternoon, still stranded at the scene of the road carnage.
Those who spoke to Zimpapers said they have been stranded since Thursday night when the accident happened. A majority of them were women and children.
“We have been promised that another bus will come and take us to Harare, so we expect it to be here before sunset,” said Ms Martha Mutemi.
Mrs Ruveneko Mutasa said the accident had left her young daughters traumatised.
“We were sleeping when the accident happened, but when my daughters saw what had happened in the morning, they were very traumatised. It’s so sad that people lost their lives. No one was seriously injured in the bus, but we are all still traumatised,” she said.
“The vehicles that were involved in the accident were damaged extensively and no one could have survived from that wreckage.”
