Story By Panashe Nagoli
THREE men were killed after a three-tonne crate of glass panels collapsed on them during an offloading operation in Workington, Harare, on Wednesday morning.
The fatal incident occurred as a group of eight workers was unloading a consignment from a truck at a local company, when one of the heavy crates slipped, crushing three employees.
One of the survivors, Mr Tanaka Chagonda said the accident happened without warning.
“We were offloading a crate of glass panels from the truck when one of the crates slipped and crushed three of our colleagues. It was very frightening,” he said.
Another worker, Mr Phineas Hlanganisa described the scene as chaotic and traumatic.
“One moment we were working, and the next we heard screams. It was a terrible scene. The crate fell on them, and they died in a very painful way. This is our job, but it should not end like this,” he said.
Emergency services responded swiftly, with the City of Harare Fire Brigade managing to lift the crate, while police secured the area, which was strewn with shattered glass.
Mr Aleck Muzozo, who narrowly escaped said he is still in shock.
“I was working exactly where the three men died, but I managed to duck and the crate only grazed my face. I thank God I survived, but I am not okay, one of the deceased is my brother,” he said.
Crane operator Mr Question Muringwa attributed the accident to a possible lapse in communication.
“I was operating the crane, and I think there was a miscommunication. A safety belt was not secured where it should have been. By the time I heard the screams and tried to lift the crate, it was already too late,” he said.
Of the five surviving workers, one sustained injuries and was taken to hospital for treatment.
Authorities said the identities of the deceased will be released once their next of kin have been notified.
The incident has renewed concerns over workplace safety, with calls for stricter adherence to handling procedures when dealing with heavy equipment and hazardous materials.
