adminHarare Bureau
ONE person died while several others sustained injuries in a stampede at a Zanu-PF rally in Chitungwiza yesterday. The rally held at Chibuku Stadium, which was attended by tens of thousands of people, was addressed by President Mugabe. The stampede occurred when thousands of people were stopped from entering the stadium that had exceeded its carrying capacity.
Police chief spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba confirmed the incident.
“The Head of State and Commander in Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces His Excellency President Mugabe addressed a rally at Chibuku Stadium today (yesterday) which was well attended by well over 20 000 people,” she said.
“One unidentified female adult, aged approximately 52, was injured in a stampede that occurred when people were stopped from entering the stadium which had exceed its capacity. She later died at Chitungwiza Hospital. Police are appealing to relatives to proceed to Chitungwiza Police Station and see the officer-in-charge.”
Snr Asst Comm Charamba said an unspecified number of people also sustained minor to moderate injuries.
They were treated and discharged.
Chitungwiza Hospital chief executive Dr Obadiah Moyo said they had attended to 61 cases.
“We treated 25 people who came direct from the stadium, among them the deceased woman. The woman is yet to be identified,” he said.
“The other 35 cases came from an accident that happened while people were coming from the rally at Manyame Bridge. The other person fell from a lorry that was also coming from the same event and sustained injuries.”
President Mugabe’s star rallies have been drawing bumper crowds.
On Monday the, Zanu-PF opted for an open space outside Rudhaka Stadium in Marondera after realising that the multitudes who attended the rally would not fit in the 5 000-seater stadium.
Online Reporter