Online Reporter
Sikhumbuzo Moyo and Andile Tshuma, Zimpapers Writers
A 44-YEAR-OLD woman and a 14-year-old girl were killed on Saturday evening after a suspected drunken driver lost control of his vehicle and hit them along Nketa Drive in Sizinda suburb, Bulawayo.
An 11-year-old girl, also part of the same family, sustained serious injuries and is recovering at Mpilo Central Hospital.
The tragedy occurred near the Intuta Primary School bus stop. Bulawayo deputy provincial police spokesperson, Assistant Inspector Thandekile Ndlovu, identified the deceased as Adija Phiri (44) and Militia Moyo (14), both of whom died from severe head injuries.
The driver, Tinashe Ndoora (30), who was behind the wheel of a silver Subaru Forester (registration number ACT 4273), has been charged with culpable homicide.
“The driver was driving along Nketa Drive with no passenger on board. He is a holder of a valid class four driver’s licence, but his car had no valid insurance or vehicle licence. The registered owner of the vehicle is yet to be established,” said Asst Insp Ndlovu.
She added that Ndoora, who was allegedly speeding, side-swiped another vehicle driven by Tapiwa Philani Chikoto in a Honda Fit, before ploughing into the pedestrians.
“The three victims were standing at the centre of Nketa Drive, intending to cross the road when they were hit by the speeding vehicle. Ndoora was driving towards the northern direction when he lost control, side-swiped Chikoto’s vehicle, veered off the road and hit the pedestrians. Militia and Adija sustained head injuries and died on the spot,” said Asst Insp Ndlovu.
The bodies of the deceased were taken to the United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH) for post-mortem. Both vehicles were impounded and taken to Nkulumane Police Station pending inspection by the Vehicle Inspectorate Department (VID).
“The cause of the accident was due to speeding and failure to keep a proper lookout by Ndoora, hence we are charging him with culpable homicide as defined in Section 49 of the Criminal Law as read with section 64(3) of the Road Traffic Act, Chapter 13:11,” said Asst Insp Ndlovu.
Witnesses told Zimpapers they suspected the driver was drunk.
“He was speeding and failed to stop at a pedestrian crossing point near the bus stop, ploughing into pedestrians in the process,” said one witness.
Bulawayo chief fire officer, Mr Mhlangano Moyo, confirmed that the deceased were related and said the surviving girl sustained multiple fractures.
“The victims were declared dead when emergency services arrived at the scene. The 11-year-old girl is in critical condition at Mpilo Central Hospital,” he said.
Mr Moyo urged motorists to exercise extreme caution, obey traffic regulations, and give way to pedestrians, especially at designated crossings.
Unless legislation around sentencing of these low lives change, we will continue to count dead bodies on our roads. The saddest part is our belief that problems can disappear by talking about them. A whole nation failing to reign in a few individuals? Who can advise the police, the legislators, the executive and communities that talking about problems doesn’t fix them? Taking decisive action does.