Story by Yolanda Moyo
A CLOUD of grief hung over Victoria Falls this Wednesday as hundreds gathered for an emotional joint funeral service for the eight people who perished in the Deka Bridge Road traffic accident in Hwange District last week.
Inside the lobby of the famed Elephant Hills Hotel, the vibrant colours have faded. The fresh flowers this world-renowned resort relies on to welcome international guests have wilted, marking the sudden, silent absence of the woman who brought them to life.
For years, Tizhani Mbozi was the creative soul behind the resort’s stunning floral arrangements. But today, these flowers stand as a poignant symbol of grief, drooping just days after she died alongside seven other people in a road traffic accident at Deka Bridge in Hwange District.
This Wednesday, a community’s grief became a national moment of mourning as more than two thousand people from all walks of life gathered in Victoria Falls for a joint funeral service honouring the eight victims of the crash. The tragedy has shaken the nation deeply, prompting the President, Dr Emmerson Mnangagwa, to declare the accident a State of Disaster.
“She was a dedicated colleague, and she loved what she did at the hotel. She treated the flowers with kindness and love. We shall forever remember her,” a colleague said.
“Tizhani was the first born in our family, she had two children, she was the bread winner in our family, one of her children is at university and now we are asking ourselves how will her children continue with their education, this accident has reminded us as a family on how life is fragile.,” we are deeply saddened as the Ndumo family as we lost a four year old daughter who had dreams, but they were shattered early. We are grateful for what the government has done by declaring this a state of disaster,” a family member said.
“My brother’s wife was a pillar in our family, and her death has brought grief. However, as we mourn, we are relieved that the government is taking care of the burial as we go to Masvingo,” a family member said.
Beyond the immediate grief, the disaster has also renewed urgent calls for the speedy enactment of the Road Accident Fund Bill, a piece of legislation expected to provide financial and long-term relief to crash victims and their families.
“We continue to lose lives on our roads. There is a need for stronger intervention, greater responsibility and support for affected families,” Chief Whange said.
“We join the nation as Matabeleland North province in mourning the death of these eight victims. The government is accelerating efforts around the Road Accident Fund so that families affected by tragedies such as this one can receive meaningful support and assistance. Road safety remains a national priority,” Mat North Director Economic Affairs and Investment Promotion, Mr Godfrey Mukwakwami said.
As the final amen echoed here at st Josephine Bakhita Catholic Church, the paths of these eight families split, scattering across different burial grounds to lay their loved ones to rest. But for many people, the memory of the victims and the pain left behind at Deka Bridge will linger far beyond today’s farewell.
