Chronicle Editor
Midlands Bureau Chief
ONE passenger died on admission to hospital while 21 others escaped with injuries when a Joma Bus they were travelling on rolled back and landed on its left side on the steep Boterekwa escarpment in Shurugwi on Tuesday.
The bus which was coming from Mabasa Village in Zvishavane and heading to Gweru is reported to have developed a mechanical fault while the driver was negotiating a curve along the dreaded Boterekwa escarpment.
Shurugwi District Development Coordinator (DDC) Mr Romeo Shangwa said:
“I can confirm that one passenger, a woman aged 52, died when the Joma Bus rolled back when the driver was negotiating the Boterekwa escarpment. There were 21 injured passengers and six of them are admitted to Shurugwi District Hospital while the rest were treated and discharged.”
When a Chronicle news crew arrived at the scene, the injured had been rushed to Shurugwi District Hospital while a vehicle recovery company was trying to remove the bus which was blocking the road.
The Joma Bus driver who declined to be named and was still at the scene said he had 33 passengers on board.
“As I was busy negotiating the steep ascent, the bus somehow developed a mechanical fault and started rolling back. The passengers started screaming and there was confusion all over. I then avoided plunging into the steep gorge by directing the bus to the mountain edge,” he said.
Some witnesses said the ambulance and the police responded to the emergency after 45 minutes.
“We are about eight kilometres from Shurugwi but it took more than 45 minutes to respond to the distress calls,” said Mr Ian Kanhukamwe.
The Boterekwa escarpment has become a death trap because of the potholes.
Last year, a driver delivering Pepsi soft drinks to Shurugwi died when he lost control of his truck which overturned and landed on its roof.
The planned US$7 million Boterekwa escarpment road dualisation is in limbo after the initial contractor Transit Homes Contractors allegedly failed to come up with a design for the project.
The escarpment – an international passage for trade and tourism in Shurugwi was set for a major facelift from June last year when the Government approved the project.
The Government is now retendering it.
Online Reporter