Police name Mutoko crash victims

Victor Maphosa-Mashonaland East Bureau

POLICE have released five names of the seven people killed in a road traffic  accident near Mutoko, Mashonaland East, along the Harare-Nyamapanda highway on Tuesday afternoon

The accident occurred at the 120km  peg along the Harare-Nyamapanda highway, when a Toyota Quantum vehicle travelling towards Harare reportedly burst its front right tyre, resulting in the driver losing control of the vehicle, which then veered off the road and hit a tree. Seven people died on the spot, while five others were injured.

National police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi said the five identified by their next of kin were Michael Mugandani (36), Innocent Nyamukondiwa (37), Edith Musorowembudzi (36), Dumisani Mutsawa (33) and Mabhebhe Chingamuka (6).

“The remaining two are yet to be identified by their next of kin. The injured are admitted to  Murehwa District Hospital while the bodies of the deceased were taken to Mutoko Hospital mortuary for post-mortem.

“The Zimbabwe Republic Police reiterates that motorists should observe stipulated speed limits and abide by the road rules and regulations in order to save human lives,” Comm Nyathi said.

The Harare-Nyamapanda highway accident comes hardly a week after another fatal accident that claimed five lives occurred at the 32 km peg along the Harare-Mutare highway, near the popular Mutangadura entertainment centre in Mashonaland East province.  

Investigations established that a Freightliner truck that was travelling towards Marondera using the outer lane suddenly turned into the inner lane in front of a Tenda bus which was travelling towards Marondera with 56 passengers on board.

It was reported that the Tenda bus was about to overtake the haulage truck, and, resultantly, the bus hit the trailer of the haulage truck, before it swerved on to the lane of oncoming traffic where it collided with a Phils and Pats bus that was travelling towards Harare with 25 passengers on board.

As a result, four people were killed while 14 others were injured. 

Bodies of the deceased were taken to Marondera Provincial Hospital mortuary for post-mortem while the injured were rushed to Marondera as well as Parirenyatwa Hospitals.