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The commuter omnibus that crashed into the newly refurbished Esats Shopping Complex in Bulawayo on Friday night

Andile Tshuma, Chronicle Reporter
A COMMUTER omnibus rammed into the newly refurbished Esats Shopping Complex following a collision involving three vehicles at the corner of 10th Avenue and Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Street in Bulawayo.

Shaken survivors said they were lucky to be alive following the crash on Friday, around 10PM.

Witnesses said the accident was caused by a Honda Fit, belonging to a local pharmaceutical company, which failed to give way to oncoming traffic.

“A Honda Fit came through the intersection and did not stop to give way to a Toyota Corolla and kombi that were going in opposite directions. The kombi swerved to avoid the Honda Fit and the driver lost control of the vehicle ramming into the Esats shops,” said Mr Tony Makusha, a taxi driver.

“The Honda collided with the Toyota Corolla and smashed into a street light pole. It was heading straight at Magnet House and was only stopped by the pole,” said Mr Makusha.

The kombi had four passengers on board who escaped uninjured. The driver, whose name could not be ascertained, escaped with minor leg injuries.

A woman who survived the accident said she was lucky to be alive as the vehicle had rammed into the wall on the side where she was sitting.  “I’m so grateful that I am alive and I am safe. I got so scared because the driver was heading straight for a tree. He then veered and rammed into the screen door of one of the shops,” Mrs Idah Maseko said.

Esats, the city’s oldest clothing retail shop recently invested about $250 000 in setting up its new mini-shopping complex that accommodates seven other shops.

One of the new shop owners said it was unfortunate that the accident had befallen the business barely a month after its renovation.  “It’s sad that such a thing has happened just after we moved in and we have not been here for a month. It seems like bad luck. However we appreciate that no life was lost and people are safe,” said the shop owner who requested anonymity.

@andile_tshuma