Bloodbath weekend as road accidents claims 14; death toll expected to rise
By Staff Writer
THE death toll in the fatal road traffic accidents over the weekend have claimed 14 lives in total with the death toll expected to rise further from serious injuries recorded.
In the first accident involving two cross border buses that occurred early Saturday morning has risen from seven to nine.
The incident occurred near Tshamunanga area 12km north of Beitbridge town along the Beitbridge to Masvingo highway.Witnesses said one of the buses hit a donkey and swerved to the oncoming traffic lane resulting in the tragedy.
Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) national spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the crash, putting the latest figure of casualties at nine.
“ZRP confirms a fatal road traffic accident which occurred on March 16, 2024 at around 0100hours at the 267 kilometre peg along Masvingo-Beitbridge road, in which nine people were killed whilst 39 others were injured when a Blue Circle bus and a City Bus were involved in a head-on collision,” said Nyathi.
Police identified five of the nine victims as the Blue Circle bus driver, Taurai Muketiwa (age not given), Netsai Mudarikwa (40) of Chegutu, Rangarirai Mbizvo (43) of Beitbridge, Miriam Majengu (age not given) of Macheke and Clever Chikare of Harare.
The other four victims are yet to be identified by their next of kin.
According to sources, the crash occurred when a City Bus coach travelling from Johannesburg enroute to Harare crashed into a Blue Circle bus coming from Karoi and heading to the border town.
Meanwhile ,five teachers from Munyati Primary School situated a few kilometres outside Kwekwe perished in a horrific road traffic accident on Friday afternoon.
The victims were travelling aboard a Toyota Aqua which was involved in the horrific road traffic accident along the Harare-Bulawayo highway.
Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) national spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the incident on X.
Police identified the victims as Tsungirirai Joe (57) of Munyati, Mitchell Maticha (22) of Kwekwe, Stabile Nothando Moyo (33) of Kwekwe, Everjoice Ngwenya (38) of Kwekwe and Lesley Mugwidi (29) of Kwekwe.
