Story by Wellington Makonese
THE fatal road accident in Gokwe that claimed 10 lives on Wednesday has intensified calls for stricter road safety enforcement and greater caution among motorists as Zimbabwe continues to battle a surge in deadly traffic accidents.
Midlands Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Honourable Owen Ncube, visited survivors receiving treatment at Gweru Provincial Hospital after they were transferred from Gokwe for specialised care.
What began as a routine journey from Gokwe to Harare turned tragic for more than 35 passengers travelling on a Trip Trans bus when the vehicle was involved in a horrific crash.
Ten people died on the spot, while several others sustained serious injuries, leaving families and survivors grappling with trauma and loss.
Among those recovering is Cecilia Musarumana, who described surviving the crash as miraculous.
“I boarded a vehicle which continuously had breakdowns, then we boarded this bus which was also having continuous breakdowns, and I thought maybe I should not have been on the bus. To be frank, I do not know what happened. All I remember is being stuck inside, my legs not moving until some people rescued me. It is a painful experience,” she said.
Gweru Provincial Hospital Medical Superintendent, Dr Fabian Mashingaidze, said six critically injured patients were transferred to the institution from the crash scene.
“We received six transfer patients from the scene, of which two passed on upon arrival at the hospital. The remaining four are being taken care of after sustaining severe lower limb fractures involving the tibia and fibula.
“One of the patients required blood before being taken to theatre for internal fixation procedures. We are hopeful they are now fairly stable and our surgeons will continue managing their condition,” he said.
Honourable Ncube expressed condolences to the bereaved families and said Government would assist affected families with burial arrangements.
“This week we have received two accidents in the Midlands, with six lives lost along the Harare-Bulawayo Road. The Government of Zimbabwe will assist with the burials. On behalf of Government, I express my deepest condolences and urge motorists to exercise extreme caution on our roads,” he said.
Authorities continue to attribute most fatal road traffic accidents to human error, with reckless driving, speeding and negligence remaining among the leading causes of crashes across the country.
The latest tragedy adds to growing concern over road safety, as lives continue to be lost in preventable accidents that leave devastating social and economic consequences for families and communities.
