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Nqobile Tshili Chronicle Reporter
A PUPIL from Seula Secondary School in Kezi, Matabeleland South, died on the spot while several others and a teacher were critically injured when a commuter omnibus they were travelling in veered off the road and overturned. The pupils were on their way to Usher High School for a sporting event when the accident happened on Friday afternoon near Kezi Business Centre.
A witness said the commuter omnibus driver was speeding and failed to negotiate a curve near the shops causing the vehicle to veer off the road before it rolled three times.
It could not be ascertained how many people were on board but the injured were rushed to Mpilo Central and United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH).
Hospital officials confirmed the injured were admitted and in a stable condition but declined to comment further saying senior management was off duty.
A parent to one of the pupils Joyce Ndlovu said: “We came to visit the children and they are in pain. Some of them have swollen body parts and they can’t even tell us what really transpired,” she said.
Ndlovu said witnesses suspected the commuter omnibus driver was speeding but expressed hope the children would recover and return to school.
“We visited the five who are admitted at UBH but two are also admitted at Mpilo. Although the situation is critical we are hopeful that they will all recover,” she said.
Hospital officials said some of the injured pupils were treated and discharged. Some teachers were also seen visiting the pupils but declined to comment referring all questions to district education officers.
Meanwhile, a Victoria Falls tour operating company’s driver died on the spot while two of his colleagues were critically injured when a Nissan pick-up they were travelling in hit a tree on Thursday night, police confirmed.
Officer commanding police in Victoria Falls District, Chief Superintendent Jairos Chiwona, said Million Gumbo, who works for Lion Encounter, lost control of the vehicle at the 401km peg along the Bulawayo-Victoria Falls highway, before hitting a tree around 11PM.
Police suspect the driver was speeding.
The other two Thathi Mathe, 36, and Sylvester Munkuli, 33, from Mkhosana Township were rushed to Victoria Falls Hospital and are in a serious condition.
The crew was heading to Victoria Falls Town from Jambezi when the accident occurred.
“Preliminary investigations suggest Million Gumbo, 54, of Chinotimba Township who was carrying two passengers, lost control of the vehicle at the 401KM peg and hit a tree. We suspect he was speeding when he lost control of the vehicle,” said Chief Supt Chiwona.
He said Mathe and Munkuli were rushed to hospital with critical injuries.
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