UPDATE

“Horrified and heartbroken” – President Mnangagwa as he declares Beitbridge accident a National Disaster

Bongani Ndlovu, Online Reporter

PRESIDENT Mnangagwa has declared the Beitbridge accident, which claimed 24 lives on Thursday morning, a National Disaster, as he paid his condolences to the families of the deceased.

Zimbabwe awoke to the tragic news that 24 people had died following a head-on collision between an Urban Connect bus and an Auro Transport haulage truck at Lutumba tollgate, about 25 km out of Beitbridge Town.

The horrific accident occurred at around 7am along the Beitbridge- Masvingo highway. Seventeen people died on the spot, while seven others died upon admission to the Beitbridge District Hospital.

In a statement on Thursday evening, President Mnangagwa, expressed his deepest and heartfelt condolences, saying Government would assist the victims with a state-assisted burial.

“Government has therefore declared this incident a National Disaster and will accord the victims of this horrendous crash a State-assisted burial. As I express my deepest, heartfelt condolences to the families and relatives who have lost their loved ones in this horrific crash, I also prayerfully reach out to all those injured and hospitalised, wishing them a speedy recovery,” said President Mnangagwa.

He added that Zimbabwe “does not deserve this at all, let alone experiencing such a bloody incident at the beginning of the year.”

“The death of 24 Zimbabweans in a head-on collision between an Urban Connect bus and a commercial haulage truck, along the Beitbridge-Masvingo Highway this morning, left me horrified and heartbroken.

“Fellow Zimbabweans, our nation does not deserve this at all, let alone experiencing such a bloody incident at the beginning of the year. We must do all that is possible to curb this unjustified loss of life,” said the President.

He appealed to all motorists to exercise extreme caution on the road, for the sake of both fellow road users and themselves.

“All arms of the Government that are responsible for ensuring safety on our roads are thus constantly reminded to work around the clock and employ all legal means and powers available to them to reduce and ultimately put an end to such carnage,” said President Mnangagwa.

UPDATE

Eye witnesses speak on the fatal Bus and Haulage truck head on collision along the Beitbridge Masvingo highway

Video by: Thupeyo Muleya

UPDATE

Beitbridge accident: Bus tried to overtake killing 24 – Police

Sidumisile Mabena, [email protected]

POLICE have said 24 people died in a tragic accident on the Masvingo-Beitbridge highway on Thursday at around 8AM.

In a statement, National Police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi said an Urban Connect bus carrying 65 passengers had a head on collision with an Auro Transport haulage truck with four occupants resulted in the deaths of 24 people.

“The bus was travelling from Harare to Beitbridge while the truck was travelling in the opposite direction,” said Commissioner Nyathi.

He said preliminary investigations suggest that the accident occurred as the bus attempted to overtake another vehicle.

“The number of injured people is still being determined. The bodies of the victims have been taken to Beitbridge District Hospital mortuary for post-mortem, while the injured are receiving treatment at the same hospital,” said Commissioner Nyathi.

He said police are investigating the scene and more details will be released as they become available.

UPDATE

Panic-stricken Beitbridge residents throng district hospital

Thupeyo Muleya, Beitbridge Bureau

PANIC-STRICKEN Beitbridge residents have thronged the district hospital where over 30 people are admitted, while 24 others died during a head-on collision between a bus and a commercial truck, 21 km north of the border town.

District Medical Officer, Dr Lenos Samhere, said they have so far confirmed 24 deaths.

He stated that 17 died on the spot, while seven succumbed to head injuries at the hospital.

“We are still busy on the ground. We’ll have a better picture of the exact figures at a later stage,” said Dr Samhere.

According to witnesses, the bus was heading to Beitbridge when it collided with a truck travelling to Chirundu, just 21 km after the Lutumba tollgate.

Residents at the hospital said they had come to check on their relatives to see if they were among the victims.

“I rushed here to verify if any of my relatives were injured or could have died,” said a woman who preferred to be called Mai Tanaka.

The Civil Protection Committee is still on the ground with the police and members of the national army.

UPDATE

24 dead so far, 17 on the spot

Thupeyo Muleya, Beitbridge Bureau

Beitbridge District Medical Officer Dr Lenos Samhere has confirmed that so far 24 people have died from the accident that occurred at Lutumba tollgate at around 7AM along the Beitbridge to Masvingo road.

He said 17 died on the scene while seven who had head injuries died upon admission at the hospital.

Dr Samhere said over 30 people were taken to the hospital with 12 in critical condition.

According to witnesses, the Beitbridge-bound bus collided with a commercial truck carrying 34 tonnes of magnesium that was heading to Chirundu.

UPDATE

Bus-Haulage truck head-on collision claims lives along Beitbridge highway

Bus-Haulage truck head on collision claims lives along Beitbridge highway

Thupeyo Muleya, Beitbridge Bureau

SCORES of travellers were killed on Thursday morning when an Urban Connect bus they were travelling in collided head-on with a commercial truck at the Lutumba tollgate along the Beitbridge to Masvingo highway.

Bus-Haulage truck head-on collision claims lives along Beitbridge highway

Witnesses say the accident occurred just before 7AM when the driver of the bus made an overtaking error.

Bus-Haulage truck head-on collision claims lives along Beitbridge highway

The local civil protection committee members, the police and the army are still on the ground, retrieving the human remains from the wreckage.

Several others who have been injured have been taken to the district hospital.