Online Reporter
Freeman Razemba
Senior Reporter
PRESIDENT Mnangagwa has sent a condolence message to the families of the 12 people who died when a fuel tanker sideswiped a two-tonne truck coming from the opposite direction before colliding head-on with a Nissan AD Van at the 200km peg along the Harare-Bulawayo Road on Tuesday morning.
Two other people were injured, and the horrific crash occurred at the Sebakwe River near Kwekwe.
Among the deceased were six men and six women. The accident involved a fuel tanker with two trailers, a two-tonne truck, and a Nissan AD Van carrying 12 occupants.
Police said the fuel tanker sideswiped the two-tonne truck coming from the opposite direction before colliding head-on with the Nissan AD Van.
The tanker then dragged the AD Van for several metres before overturning and crushing it underneath, trapping the victims inside.
In his condolence message, President Mnangagwa said: “I learnt with a very heavy heart of the horrific traffic collision yesterday in Midlands which claimed 12 innocent lives.
“The deadly incident adds yet another grim statistic to the needless toll which reckless driving levies on our people and our Nation.
“While I am pleased that the Zimbabwe Republic Police is moving speedily towards a full deployment of high-end technologies for traffic management, and for curbing waywardness on our roads, more still has to be done to arrest the ever-spiralling fatalities we face as a Nation. The duty for safe traffic conduct squarely falls on all road users, while the responsibility to call out reckless road users includes the general public, who should support our law enforcement agencies to tame what, in essence, has become a traffic jungle.
“My heart goes out to families that have lost their loved ones in this horrific accident. Equally, I wish a speedy recovery to all those nursing injuries from the incident. I have since directed the responsible arms of my Government to declare this traffic accident a national disaster. This crucial legal step paves the way for the Government to move in and take all-around responsibility for the interment of all those who perished in the accident, and for support to those hospitalised. May all the bereaved and other affected families find comfort and solace in that our Nation joins and mourns with them in this hour of deep grief and pain.”
