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Raymond Jaravaza, [email protected]

TWO people died while several others were injured when an Inter Africa bus veered off the road and overturned at a bridge along the Bulawayo/Gwanda Highway on Saturday.

The Bulawayo Fire Brigade was summoned to the scene of the accident to rescue three passengers who were trapped in the wreckage.

“An Inter Africa bus from Mutare heading into Bulawayo city centre veered off the road and overturned at Umguza Bridge along the Gwanda/Bulawayo Road. The bus had 50 passengers on board, two died and 43 were injured,” Bulawayo chief fire officer, Mr Mhlangano Moyo, confirmed.

“The Bulawayo Fire Brigade rescued three passengers that were trapped in the bus.” 

He said the injured were rushed to Mpilo Central Hospital for medical attention.

“The area was very slippery after the recent rains and we encourage drivers to exercise extreme caution on the roads as the rainy season has started,” said Mr Moyo. 

“The Bulawayo Fire Brigade also recommends that speed humps are erected in order for motorists to reduce speed when approaching the area.”

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development has announced that Zimbabwean and South African officials will this week meet to work out how to reduce traffic accidents and control the movement of dangerous goods between the two countries.

The meeting between the two countries follows a surge in fatal cross-border bus accidents in South Africa, prompting the Cross-Border Road Transport Agency (C-BRTA) to initiate talks with the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development, led by Minister Felix Mhona.

The meetings are scheduled from Thursday this week to next Monday.

In a statement, C-BRTA’s executive manager for law enforcement, Dr Linda Mbana, confirmed the planned discussions. C-BRTA, South Africa’s regulatory body for cross-border commercial road transport, will partner with Zimbabwe to strategise on safety, compliance, and road accident reduction measures.