Patrick Chitumba Midlands Bureau Chief
THREE women died yesterday while 13 other people were injured when a bus carrying them overturned at the 72km peg along the Zvishavane-Gweru highway after being sideswiped by a haulage truck.Passengers on the Tombs Motorways coach were mainly cross-border traders and one of them told The Chronicle that the bus was overloaded with luggage.

Seven other people were injured on Monday night in a separate accident when a Chinhoyi-bound Sheron Bus veered off the road and hit a tree at the 31 KM peg along Mhandamabwe-Tokwe Road in Chivi, while travelling from South Africa.

National Police Spokesperson Chief Superintendent Paul Nyathi said the accident that killed three people in the Midlands occurred at around 5AM yesterday.

“A Tombs Motorways bus which was coming from South Africa with 35 passengers was hit by a haulage truck which was travelling in the opposite direction. The bus went off the road and overturned,” he said.

“Three people died on the spot while 13 were injured. Of these, four were treated and discharged at Shurugwi Hospital, six are still admitted at the hospital while three were referred to Gweru General Hospital due to serious injuries sustained. The haulage truck did not stop.”

A Chronicle news crew visited the scene of the accident near Runde Bridge along the Zvishavane- Gweru highway.

The bodies had been removed from the scene and taken to Gweru Provincial Hospital mortuary.

Items which included baked beans, rice, and cooking oil, sweets, washing soap fizzy drinks, clothing, satchels and electric gadgets had been removed from the wreckage.

Luggage belonging to the dead was taken by the police for safe keeping.

Bus driver Willard Mutuwe, said he was coming from Beitbridge not South Africa.

The bus driver said he lost control after his windscreen shattered in his face when conduit pipes which were protruding from a haulage truck travelling in the opposite direction smashed it.

A visibly shaken Mutuwe, who was almost shedding tears said the haulage truck driver did not even bother to stop after the accident.

He said after the windscreen was shattered, he lost control of the bus which fell on its left side before skidding on the tarred road for about 50 metres before it came to a halt.

“As I approached Runde River, there was a haulage truck travelling in the opposite direction and before I knew it, there was a loud shattering sound and I realised that my windscreen had been damaged,” said Mutuwe. In a split a second I’d lost control of the bus which started sliding on its left side injuring passengers in the process.”

Mutuwe said when the bus stopped several passengers including the conductor had been injured.

He said some passengers escaped with minor injuries.

Cain Chatora, one of the bus loaders said those who died were all from Kwekwe.

Memory Dube, a passenger from Kwekwe who survived the accident said she was one of the first people to come out of the wreckage.

“The first ambulance arrived at the scene of the accident an hour later with members from Gweru City Council Fire Brigade who had to cut the wreckage to remove trapped bodies,” she said.

She said half of the bus was filled with their goods.

“The bus was overloaded for sure but it was us the passengers who didn’t want to leave our stuff in Beitbridge. So half of the bus and the trailer were stashed with our goods,” said Dube.

Acting Masvingo police spokesperson, Assistant Inspector Nkululeko Nduna said the seven people who were injured in the Sheron Bus accident were rushed to Chibi Mission Hospital where they were treated and discharged.

He said the accident happened on Monday night.

“I can confirm receiving a report of a serious accident near Mhandamabwe in Chivi district. Seven people were injured and rushed to Chibi Mission Hospital where they were treated and discharged,” said Asst Insp Nduna.

According to sources the bus was travelling from South Africa to Chinhoyi with over 40 passengers, mainly cross border traders.

 

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