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Mashudu Netsianda, Senior Reporter
PRESIDENT Mnangagwa has sent condolence messages to the families of the Mutare road traffic accident victims and hailed the outstanding bravery of a truck driver who rescued some people when a bus and fuel tanker collided near Mutare on Christmas’ Eve.
Three people died on the spot including the driver of the fuel tanker and his passenger while two others died upon admission to Victoria Chitepo Hospital.
More than 20 are admitted to hospital and the bodies of the victims were ferried to the same hospital mortuary.
Truck driver, Mr Sirizani Butau was among the first to respond to the fatal accident which happened 20 kilometres outside Mutare when a Beta Bus Company’s Yutong collided with a Freightliner fuel tanker which was travelling in the opposite direction, with one passenger on board.
Among those being nursed is Mr Butau, a man who was not in the Beta bus, nor was he aboard the haulage truck it collided with.
He was driving another truck when he identified the truck which had collided with the bus.
Addressing congregants during the 5th edition of the annual National Thanksgiving and Dedication Service at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) Grounds in Bulawayo yesterday, President Mnangagwa said despite the risk of losing his own life, Mr Butau demonstrated Christ-like selflessness, bravery and love.
“In this spirit, allow me to recognise the heroism shown by Mr Sirizani Butau in his efforts to save lives of passengers in the recent bus disaster that occurred in Mutare on 24 December. He demonstrated Christlike selflessness, bravery and love, even at the risk of losing his own life,” he said.
“May God fill us as a nation with this kind of love. We pray that Mr Butau and other passengers from the accident receive healing and speedy recovery.”
In a statement, President Mnangagwa also sent condolences to the families and relatives of those who perished in the accident.
“On behalf of our Nation, Government and on my behalf, I wish to express my deepest, heartfelt condolences to families and relatives who lost their beloved ones in yesterday’s horrific traffic accident along the Harare-Mutare Highway involving a passenger bus and a fuel tanker,” he said.
“As we all grieve over the tragic loss of lives in that traffic incident, we again remind each other to exercise extreme caution as we travel to various destinations during the Christmas and New Year break. Our gradually improving highways and trunk roads should never be an excuse for reckless behaviour by any road-user, in the process endangering or even hurting others.”
In wishing a speedy recovery to all those recuperating from injuries and burns from the horrific traffic accident, President Mnangagwa said he was heartened by the life-saving and public-spiritedness shown by other road users and communities who witnessed the fatal mishap.
“In particular, I was struck by the outstanding bravery of one of our citizens, Mr Butau, who defied personal safety to help with the rescue effort, in the process sustaining several burns and injuries. Without him and many others who rose to the occasion, many more lives could have been hurt or even lost,” he said.
“Our Nation honours such great deeds which should never go unnoticed and uncelebrated. Indeed, these deeds cultivate and impart great compassion to our Nation, thus confirming our humanity as a people.”
The driver of the bus was travelling towards Mutare, with 63 passengers on board and on approaching the 242km peg it is claimed that the driver was avoiding a suspected drunk pedestrian resulting in the bus swerving onto the lane of oncoming traffic.
As a result, the bus collided with a Freightliner fuel tanker which was travelling in the opposite direction, with one passenger on board
Police have not yet revealed the names of the victims who died as they haven’t informed relatives.
Mr Butau, who is admitted to Kadoma Queen Mary Private Hospital, said he was humbled by the gesture shown by the President.
“I am humbled by the words coming from the President himself. It is a great honour indeed,” he said.
Mr Butau said the truck that was involved in the accident was being driven by his colleague and friend.
“I rushed and found my colleague still alive, so I tried to save him because I knew that with time the petrol would catch fire so when I was trying to retrieve him that is when it caught fire,” he said.
Mr Butau rescued eight people from an impending fire, suffering third degree burns in the process. His images have since gone viral on Twitter, with people celebrating him.
Several accounts have shared his story, rallying on people to make mobile money donations as the people’s way of thanking him for his heroics.
Some notable figures who have extended their hands include comedienne Madam Boss, who pledged US$500 towards Butau and his family.
Corporates too have entered the fray, local breadmaker TN Baker has pledged a US$1 000 donation.
Local eatery Hotplate Grill has donated meals to cover the duration of his hospital stay.
Despite his face dominating the Twitter algorithm on Christmas Day, Butau said his intervention was not in pursuit of glory.
“I was not doing it in pursuit of any glory or praise. If there are people who may want to extend donations, they can do so, but I am not making any demands,” Mr Butau said.
Witnesses said Mr Butau tried to open the door, in which the tanker driver was trapped.
As Butau struggled to open the door, the fire kept growing prompting him to seek a quicker solution than just his bare hands.
As he tried to find tools to open the door, the truck burst into a ball of fire and the colleague he was trying to rescue was burnt to death.— @mashnets
Online Reporter