Bravo Bus company clash with accident victim over compensation

A victim of a traffic accident involving the Bravo Bus which occurred along the Bulawayo- Victoria Falls Road on November 28 this years has complained that the company seems to be unwilling to assist her meet medical expenses for the injuries sustained by her daughter.

Nyaradzo Ginyani said she was a passenger with her children in the Bravo bus when it got involved in an accident and her daughter Buhlebenkosi (6) got seriously injured and eventually lost her arm.



"The Bravo people are refusing to assist with medical bills.  I went there in person and they scolded me," she said.  "I have tickets to prove I was in the bus  as well as the letters from Bravo."

She said when she went to the Bravo offices the officials did not want to meet her face to face but spoke with her through intercom.


                       
"They couldn't let me into their office, despite the fact that I had told them I am one of the accident victims. Up until I persisted that I am not leaving the gate," she said.



"When the accident occurred we were ferried to St Lukes Hospital then later transferred to Mpilo Hospital. However; the services at Mpilo Hospital were not satisfactory considering the situation of my daughter. We then transferred to Mater Dei Hospital. My brother Trust went to Bravo Company  to ask on how they will assist on the matter and they were refereed to Tristar insurance."

Ginyani said a boss at Tristar continuously ran away avoiding her brother and would even switch off his mobile phone. After almost 2 days he then emailed a letter to Mater Dei Hospital.

"My brother then took quotations to Tristar for all the medical proceedings that were to be done on myself my daughter Buhlebenkosi (6 ) and Bryce Katlego (3)," she said.                      

She said Trister boss then said they can only pay $300 per patient.

"I went in person to the Bravo offices to inquire on how the balance will be paid since Tristar is paying $300 per patient," she said.                        

"They denied me entry into the gate despite the fact that I had told them I am an accident victim. Just to say we are sorry; how are you feeling now. Instead,  one lady Hilda sent someone with a letter referring me to the insurance company again. I told the lady I am from the insurance company so I wanted to see her boss; and she said to me, I 'm sorry you are not allowed to see him" and she went away."
                       
She said she had to show a gates man the photos of the injured daughter leading him to allow her to get in and directed her to the offices.

She said they still refused to let her in; instead spoke to her via intercom.

"I begged them and they let me in after approximately 20 minutes. When I got in Hilda told me that the company said they can't help me in anyway. They said I chose an expensive hospital because I knew I would afford; so I must bear it by myself. I told her that my daughter's condition demanded a better hospital," Ginyani said.

"I did all that not for prestige, but to save life. She said I was supposed to seek their approval to get a transfer! Imagine! Were they going to approve the transfer; considering that now they don't want to pay? I asked for the way forward and she said the company said they can not assist  on the matter."

She said as it is now; the bill is over $3000 and Mater Dei Hospital assisted them on humanitarian basis.

"They were moved by the situation. They wanted to save lives. Buhlebenkosi's left arm was amputated," she said.

Efforts to get comment from a Bravo official dealing with the matter were fruitless as her mobile number was repeatedly unreachable.