Story by Mhlomuli Ncube
GRIEF and anguish engulfed Bulawayo on Sunday as families and officials gathered to bid farewell to 12 victims of the Esigodini road accident, with calls intensifying for stricter road safety measures.
The funeral service, held at a local funeral parlour, followed Thursday’s crash which has since been declared a state of disaster by President Dr Emmerson Mnangagwa, triggering Government intervention to assist affected families.
Rows of coffins lined the chapel in a sombre scene that underscored the scale of the tragedy, leaving relatives struggling to come to terms with the sudden loss of their loved ones.
“This is painful. I do not even have words to explain it. Imagine I saw my son just days ago and the next thing, he is just dust which I have to bury, how could this be?” one relative said.
Another grieving mother added: “As a mother, you do not wish to see your child go this way. I will never understand this.”
Government officials attending the service said the tragedy had shaken the nation and reaffirmed the need for collective reflection on road safety.
“We are going through a lot right now as a nation. This accident has left us all shocked. That is why we are here at this service to pay our respects. Our focus is on this tragedy, which has also seen the President declaring it a state of disaster and Government assisting in the best way it can,” said Deputy Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Honourable Omphile Marupi.
Concerns were also raised over the circumstances surrounding the crash, particularly the alleged transportation of explosives in a passenger vehicle.
“Once again, this calls for introspection. How can someone carry people and explosives in the same vehicle? This is not fair at all. Imagine what these families are going through right now,” said Matabeleland South Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Honourable Albert Nguluvhe.
Authorities say investigations are ongoing to establish the exact cause of the accident, amid growing calls for tighter enforcement of transport regulations, especially regarding hazardous materials.
As the nation mourns, the tragedy has reignited debate on road safety practices, with stakeholders urging urgent action to prevent similar incidents.
