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. Midlands Bureau
A TOYOTA truck and a donkey drawn scotch cart had a face-off at a rural road.
The two “vehicles” collided head on leaving two donkeys dead while the two opposing drivers escaped unhurt at Matanga Growth Point in Mberengwa near the area’s only Total Service Station.
Witnesses said there was commotion as the driver of the pickup truck, Carlson Shirichena, immediately confronted the owner of the donkey drawn cart, Edmore Zhou for failing to keep left.
“Zhou in turn, accused Shirichena of negligent driving and the two had to be restrained by people that had gathered at the accident scene as the scuffle ensued.
“Police were called to resolve the dispute as Zhou demanded compensation for his two donkeys killed on the spot,” said Lameck Moyo.
Edwill Shava, another witness said the two were asked to find common ground after it also emerged that Shirichena was not a holder of a valid driver’s licence.
“Shirichena was fined by the police for driving without a licence and the two were left to negotiate,” he said.
Zhou is of the view that he should be compensated for the loss.
“I lost my donkeys in that accident and Shirichena should compensate me. He doesn’t have a driver’s licence and he should have exercised due care when approaching animals. I am very fortunate that I was not injured in the accident after I jumped out of the cart and ran away when I realised that the head-on was imminent,” he said.
Zhou has since taken the matter to the local traditional leader, Chief Mataruse.
derick.khumalo