Sidumisile Mabena
Sikhumbuzo Moyo, [email protected]
The driver of the fuel tanker that overturned at the 428km peg along the Harare-Bulawayo Road on Sunday afternoon while carrying 40 000 litres of petrol will face a negligent driving charge under the Roads Traffic Act.
Ephraihm Banda, aged 42 and residing in Norton, was alone in the vehicle, driving from Harare to Bulawayo. According to police, he has yet to produce his driver’s licence, the vehicle licence, and vehicle insurance.
“The cause of the accident was due to failure to keep the motor vehicle under proper control by the sole party, hence a charge of contravening section 52[2] of the Road Traffic Act, chapter 13:11 – ‘negligent driving’ – is being preferred,” said Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Nomalanga Msebele.
Meanwhile, after nearly 72 hours of a delicate and precise rescue operation led by the Bulawayo Fire and Ambulance Services, the tanker was finally returned to the road ahead of being towed away around midday today.
The tanks were lifted from the ditch following a successful decanting exercise that began late on Tuesday afternoon.
Online Reporter