Story by Mhlomuli Ncube, Assistant News Editor
ABOUT 18 people perished in a road accident between Chipangali and Gwanda tollgate along the Bulawayo-Beitbridge Road this Thursday afternoon.
The President, Dr Emmerson Mnangagwa, has since declared the accident a state of disaster.
A burnt-out tarred road, anxious faces searching for answers and several of the country’s law enforcement agencies searching for clues. This was the story of a tragedy which occurred this Thursday along the Bulawayo-Beitbridge road when a vehicle carrying mourners from a funeral was involved in an accident.
Desperate relatives still couldn’t get full details even after being allowed by the police to try to identify the remains of their loved ones.
“We tried our best, but I am looking for my aunt, and we could not identify her. The state of the remains just couldn’t give us clues,” a relative said.
“I am here for my three relatives. I managed to identify one, but the others I could not,” another relative said.
An eyewitness, Mr Andrew Ncube, who was travelling by bus to Zvishavane, was one of the first people to arrive at the scene.
“I was on a bus on my way to Zvishavane when I came across this accident scene. I saw two people who were alive, with one mutilated on the lower body, and crying out for help. I have never seen such a horrible accident in my life, I am traumatised,” he said.
Local government and Public Works Minister, Honourable Daniel Garwe, who visited the scene, expressed sadness on behalf of government and confirmed that the accident had been declared a state of disaster.
“This is truly a sad development at a time when we are preparing for our independence celebrations. It is a horrific accident which cannot be comprehended. As Government, we will ensure we intervene to the best we can,” he said.
According to a police statement, investigations are still underway to determine the circumstances which led to the explosion of the vehicle.
