malvernmugadzikwa
Fatima Bulla-Musakwa
IT is almost two years since six learners and a teacher from Tynwald High School perished when their school bus overturned at the 75km peg along the Rusape-Nyanga road.
The accident occurred on the evening of October 14, 2022, when a bus carrying 46 passengers on its way to a trip veered off the road and overturned near Pine Tree Hotel.
For Mr Macmillan Munyaradzi Mutusva — father to Tarisai Kimberly, who died aged 15 in that accident — the pain of losing a child remains unbearable.
“My life has changed and sometimes I feel like I am useless and l couldn’t save my child. Even if I achieve something in life, there is a missing link. Even at home, things have changed. Going out as a family has been difficult for us,” he said, as he voice broke with grief.
On the fateful day, Mr Mutusva got a call from his wife, around 6pm, telling him the bus had been involved in an accident.
Soon, the news flooded social media, with harrowing pictures of the bus, which had reportedly rolled six times.
He desperately tried to call his daughter, hoping to hear her voice on the other end of the line, but he could not get through.
The next call he made to one of the teachers accompanying the learners broke his heart.
“I asked him to check for Tarisai Kimberly Mutusva and he went onto the bus where he tried calling her name several times but there was no response until he said he could not find her.
“Lastly, he just said can you drive to Nyanga,” he said.
Driving from Harare to Nyanga seemed like an eternity, as his grief-stricken wife could not utter a single word for the entire journey.
They were accompanied by a family member and friends.
On arrival, he saw his daughter lying on a stretcher.
“I tried touching her, I tried everything, but she was gone. Since then, things have not been well for us.”
He could not help but think of his last words to his daughter before she left for the trip. Coincidentally, before his daughter left, she had sent him pictures of the bus they were travelling in.
“Strangely, it matched the bus that I had dreamt of four days prior, being involved in an accident,” said Mr Mutusva.
After this dream, he had thought of asking Kimberly to forgo the trip.
However, Kimberly’s teacher convinced him that the trip would be worthwhile.
He believes the motoring public should exercise caution when they are driving, especially on roads they are not familiar with.
“The most challenging part in the grieving process is knowing that l will never see my child smile again,” he said.
“She was the person who used to wake me up every morning at 6 and would ask me how l intend to go through my day in running my businesses.
“I just want to say, Kimberly Tarisai Mutusva, wherever your soul is, fly high and be safe in God’s hands. You are in a better place with your other friends and angels.”
Online Reporter