adminWalter Mswazie Masvingo Correspondent
POLICE have identified the bodies of nine out of 12 people who died in the accident that happened when a commuter omnibus, a Nissan Caravan they were travelling in veered off the road and overturned at 65km peg along Chiredzi-Roy Road on Monday.Seven passengers died on the spot, including a seven-year-old boy while 11 were injured, six seriously. Five died upon admission at Musiso Mission Hospital near Jerera Growth point in Zaka.
National police spokesperson Chief Superintendent Paul Nyathi identified the deceased as the driver, Weston Njanjure (22), of Chindidzikai Village Chief Bota, Clemence Ruchocho (40), Lydia Sarudzai (25), of Chipfunde Village, Chengeto Ruvengo (20), of Mashungwa Village, Tsitsi Mukwaure (41), of Madzima Village, Colleta Mugani (43), Peter Matare (46), of Manhundu, Respina Nyeredzi (43), of Madzima Village, all in Chief Bota area in Zaka district in Masvingo and Stanley Chikono (seven), whose address was not given.
The bodies of the other three deceased have not yet been identified and police are appealing to the relatives to visit Musiso Mission Hospital mortuary.
“We appeal to families who have relatives who travelled between Chiredzi and Zaka on Monday but did not return, to visit Musiso Hospital. They can assist police identify the bodies at the mortuary,” he said.
Chief Supt Nyathi said public transport operators were seriously violating the Road Traffic Act by employing under-age drivers.
“If you look at the age of the driver you can see that he was way below the recommended age of 25 years. This is very serious and as police we should arrest such people including operators themselves. This is a violation of the law.
“The vehicle has since been taken to Zaka police and is waiting for inspection by the Vehicle Inspection Department (VID),” he said.
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