adminWhinsley Masara Chronicle Reporter
POLICE have released the names of people who died in two separate traffic accidents recently. One of them involved a Toyota Hiace which collided head-on with a Mitsubishi Colt at the 303km peg along the Harare-Bulawayo highway near Shangani on Saturday, killing 11 people. Eight of the deceased, police said, were members of the same family, who were going to a funeral in Harare.
The other occurred on Monday at the 126 km peg along Masvingo–Beitbridge Road and killed five people.
Chief police spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba named the 11 victims of the Shangani accident. They are Isiah Suwari of Gweru, Grace Munjanja of (Zaka), Douglas Munjanja (Zaka), Sheila Chipato (Zaka), Angel Mususa (Bulawayo), Laiza Siwela (Gwanda), Boyd Mbewe (Redcliff), Taurai Zulu (Redcliff), Emmanuel Chipato (Lupane), Kudzayi Vutoyi (Bulawayo), and Cariet Budzi (Gweru).
Snr Asst Comm Charamba said 14 people were injured in the collision.
She said in the one where five people died, 11 were injured. “The driver of a Toyota Granvia which had 15 passengers on board failed to negotiate a curve. The motor vehicle veered off the road before it rolled once and landed on its wheels.
“Four people died on the spot and one died upon admission to Mwenezi Government Hospital. Two of the deceased have been identified by their next of kin as follows: Fidelis Muridziwa, (Mwenezi) and Samuel Sibanda (Masvingo),” she said.
She appealed to those who are missing their relatives to go to Mwenezi hospital and identify the remaining three bodies. “Police are deeply concerned with the loss of lives in road accidents. We’re urging motorists to avoid speeding, overtaking errors and to exercise caution when travelling,” she said.
derick.khumalo