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Midlands Reporters
SEVENTEEN people died in two separate accidents, one along the Gweru- Lower Gweru road and another on the Harare-Mutare highway on Tuesday night.

A total of 12 people died, 11 on the spot, while the other died on admission to hospital when a commuter omnibus they were travelling in veered off the road and overturned along the Gweru-Lower Gweru road.

National Police Spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner, Charity Charamba, confirmed the accident which she said occurred 46,5km from Gweru.

The area is near James Bus Stop, Matshabeleni area, Sikula Village, Chief Sogwala.

She said only one passenger survived the accident, albeit with serious injuries.

Snr Ass Comm Charamba said the vehicle rolled once and landed on its roof.

“On the said date at 7PM, Ernest Nhlanganiso, 34, was driving a Toyota Hiace along Gweru-Lower Gweru road towards Lower Gweru with 13 passengers on board. On approaching a curve the driver lost control of the vehicle which veered off the road and overturned once before landing on its roof across a stream,” she said.

The driver and 10 passengers died on the spot while another passenger died on admission to Gweru Provincial Hospital.

The Chronicle visited Gweru Provincial Hospital where the only survivor, Gibson Marazane, of Nyama Village, Chief Sogwala, Lower Gweru, was admitted.

The news crew witnessed nurses in the process of transferring him to Mpilo Hospital in Bulawayo for specialised treatment.

Marazane said the driver had earlier been drinking before they embarked on their journey.

He also said Nhlanganiso was speeding before he lost control of the vehicle as he failed to negotiate a curve near Maboleni Business Centre.

“It was around 7PM when we started complaining to the driver, who was visibly drunk, about his excessive speed. As we were approaching Maboleni Business Centre, he failed to negotiate a curve and the vehicle veered off the road,” said Marazane.

When The Chronicle arrived at the scene, the wreckage was being towed away.

Debris from the vehicle was all over the road and the dry stream with part of the vehicle still smouldering.

A witness, Malaki Sibanda, said they had a tough time removing bodies trapped under the vehicle.

He said some bodies were thrown out of the vehicle before it landed on its roof.

Snr Ass Comm Charamba said police had so far identified 10 victims, namely, Nhlanganiso, Bilet Ncube, 29, a man of Mabuthe Village Chief Malisa, Kwekwe, Esther Ncube, 68, a woman of Guduza Village, Chief Sogwala, Lower Gweru, Rejoice Sibanda, 43, a female of Kudzanai Village Chief Sogwala, Lower Gweru, Gift Mapiye, 32, a man of Kudzanai Village Chief Sogwala, Lower Gweru, Johnson Mukondo, 35, male of Mukondo Village, Chief Sogwala, Lower Gweru, Charity Murimwa, 38, a woman of Guduza Village, Chief Sogwala, Lower Gweru, Brain Sibanda, 28, male of Guduza Village Chief Sogwala, Lower Gweru, Farai Marandu, 49, a man of Musapara Village Chief Sogwala, Lower Gweru and Cortell Mpala, 24, a man of Nyama Village, Chief Sogwala, Lower Gweru.

“The name of the other deceased will be released once the next of kin are alerted,” she said.

In the second accident that killed five people along the Harare-Mutare road Snr Ass Com Charamba said an Isuzu KB that was approaching the 67km peg towards Mutare stopped after the driver noticed cattle in the middle of the road.

“The driver slowed down and switched on hazard lights. A commuter omnibus which was travelling in the same direction tried to overtake the Isuzu KB and noticed an oncoming haulage truck,” said Snr Asst Comm Charamba.

“The commuter omnibus rammed into the Isuzu KB before being involved in a head on collision with the haulage truck. Three people died on the spot and several others were injured. Two unknown female adults later died on admission at Marondera Provincial Hospital.”

She urged motorists to avoid speeding and to approach road curves with caution.

Snr Asst Comm Charamba also urged passengers to report speeding drivers to police officers and advised them against boarding such vehicles.

“We cannot continue to lose innocent lives. The time for warning is over and the police will act decisively on all errant drivers,” she said.