‘The screams were different’. . .witnesses recount horrific vendor deaths

Bruce Ndlovu, [email protected]

SCREECHING tyres, a thunderous bang and piercing screams shattered the night at Bulawayo’s notorious 6th Avenue and Lobengula Street intersection shortly before 9PM on Wednesday, as a commuter omnibus tore through vendors and touts in one of the city’s deadliest traffic incidents in recent months.

In an area where near-misses, hooting and reckless manoeuvres by kombi drivers are part of daily life, the sounds that followed Wednesday’s crash were chillingly different — raw screams of pain and panic that signalled tragedy.

Within seconds, a speeding Toyota Hiace, commonly known as a Baby Quantum, had ploughed through human bodies, vending carts and even another commuter omnibus, before finally crashing into concrete and steel pillars near the OK Zimbabwe branch.

By the time the dust settled, two men lay dead — Mr Christopher Mukuwapasi, believed to be in his late 30s and Mr Lizwe Ncube, estimated to be about 30 years old. Seventeen others sustained injuries, some serious, and were rushed to United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH).

By mid-morning yesterday, vendors had laid out their wares again and as they haggled over prices with customers, it was back to business as usual at the notoriously busy intersection.

However, most of the chatter was still dominated by the events of the previous night which left most of them shell-shocked.

One vendor who spoke to the news crew, Ms Siphesihle Ncube, said while they lived with the ever-present prospect of danger due to the manoeuvres of kombi drivers, they never thought they would witness what happened on Wednesday night.

“It all came as such a shock. At first, we could not make sense of why people were screaming and wailing. As you can see, it’s always busy here, day and night, so noise is part of our daily lives, but what we witnessed on Wednesday was different,” she said.

“Kombi drivers and touts are always playing with danger, but after the initial shock, we knew that this was different.”

While other vendors were coy, as they were reluctant to be seen giving out information at a site where many of the activities taking place are illegal, some revealed that the two who passed on were vendors.

Director of the Bulawayo Vendors and Traders Organisation (BVTO), Mr Michael Ndiweni, said that their initial inquiries revealed that the two who were killed were vendors.

“We don’t have confirmation that the two were vendors, but that’s what our initial inquiries show. We are sending our teams to get more information and thereafter, we can move forward,” he said.

Mr Ndiweni said once it is confirmed that the dead were indeed vendors, his organisation will work out how best it could assist the families.

“What has been confirmed at the moment is that some of the people who were injured are vendors,” he said.
In a cruel irony, the tragedy unfolded just metres from Egodini Taxi Rank, a long-delayed project meant to decongest the central business district and end illegal commuter pick-up points and vending on the pavements.

The intersection of 6th Avenue and Lobengula Street has evolved into a lawless zone — an illegal taxi rank by night and an informal market by day. Kombis compete for passengers while vendors crowd the pavements and it seems its a free-for-all at night.

One pedestrian, who asked not to be named, said disaster was inevitable.
“During the day it’s organised chaos, but at night there is no order at all. Kombi drivers and touts are often drunk, speeding, and nobody controls anything. Anyone can become a victim,” he said.

In a statement, Mr Ndiweni called for the completion of market hubs such as the long-awaited Egodini Mall, a city-wide decongestion dialogue, and decisive action involving the City of Bulawayo, Central Government, transport authorities, traders’ representatives, and other relevant stakeholders.

“Proactive planning and enforcement that is humane and consultative, and the provision of alternative trading spaces, can reduce the severity of such tragic incidents,” he said.

Bulawayo Mayor Councillor David Coltart, reacting on social media, described the crash as a symptom of entrenched lawlessness.

“My condolences and sympathy are extended to the families of those who were killed, and my prayers are with the surviving injured people for a quick and full recovery. Regrettably, this accident is a direct result of the lawlessness which currently prevails in this part of Bulawayo,” he said.

Clr Coltart said illegal vending and reckless driving continue despite efforts by municipal police.
He said traffic enforcement remains thin on the ground hence the reckless driving being witnessed.

“What is more, traffic police are not adequately policing the horrendous driving we see in Bulawayo daily. There are simply insufficient traffic police on our roads at present, and bad drivers cause grave danger to innocent people daily throughout the city with absolute impunity,” he said.

In a statement, police said speeding and failure to keep a proper lookout caused the crash and said the kombi driver has been charged with culpable homicide.

“We urge all drivers to be extra careful when driving, to be on the lookout for pedestrians at all times, avoid speeding and high take-off speeds, especially in places with high pedestrian movement, and to observe all rules and regulations so as to avoid such accidents,” read the statement.

“Owners of public service vehicles are urged to employ properly licensed drivers with experience. Passengers are discouraged from boarding kombis at undesignated places.”