News / National
Obert Mpofu hands over $58,000 to Tsholotsho accident victims
09 Dec 2017 at 06:21hrs | Views
PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa has availed an additional $58 400 to the families of the victims of the Tsholotsho road disaster.
The Minister of Home Affairs and Culture, Dr Obert Mpofu, yesterday handed over the money to the Matabeleland North Provincial Civil Protection Unit at Mpilo Central Hospital in Bulawayo.
Dr Mpofu passed his condolences to the province which lost parents, children and relatives.
"The accident occurred at a time when things were a little upside down but we are glad the President was swift to make a decision of declaring it a state of disaster hence the quick assistance that is being rendered through the CPU.
"$50 000 was released under the Presidential Fund in my ministry for the accident victims. Another $8 400 came from the State Lottery to assist families of the victims," he said.
Dr Mpofu warned families of the accident victims not to fight over the financial benefits.
He said the money is not a Christmas present but an assistance fund for the injured and the bereaved.
"These monies should be used wisely, they are for children of the diseased members and the injured persons, and therefore they should get that full benefit.
We don't want to hear that uncles, aunts and small houses are fighting over these monies. We will definitely make follow-ups to see how they were used," Dr Mpofu said.
He said on Thursday he held a meeting with commanders of the police force, where he urged them to reduce road blocks and find ways of reducing road traffic accidents as people were perishing on the country's roads.
This comes after 21 members of the Ministry of Health and Child Care's Malaria Control team died in a road accident around 4PM at the 35KM peg along the Tsholotsho-Sipepa Road near Jimila Centre.
The team consisted of 69 people and the survivors suffered serious injuries.
The driver of the truck they were travelling in failed to negotiate a curve resulting in the vehicle overturning and rolling several times.
They were coming from Nkayi on their way to Jimila Clinic in Tsholotsho and the accident occurred about 300 metres away from their final destination.
The government had initially assisted the families of the bereaved with $21 000 to assist in the burial of their loved ones and treatment of those still admitted to hospitals.
Among senior officials that witnessed the handover were the Minister of Health and Child Care, Dr David Parirenyatwa, Matabeleland North provincial medical director Dr Nyasha Masuka, Matabeleland North provincial administrator, Ms Latiso Dlamini.
The officials visited the accident victims admitted to the hospital.
The officials were impressed by the good work being done by staff at Mpilo Central Hospital.
Zanu-PF national consultative assembly member Molly Mpofu said it had become rare to see civil servants applying themselves the way nurses and doctors were committed in treating the accident victims and other patients.
"I would like to thank Dr Masuka and these nurses here. I witnessed the way they have been running around since Saturday. I urge them to continue working hard. These people have remained on their toes since Saturday night," she said.
The Minister of Home Affairs and Culture, Dr Obert Mpofu, yesterday handed over the money to the Matabeleland North Provincial Civil Protection Unit at Mpilo Central Hospital in Bulawayo.
Dr Mpofu passed his condolences to the province which lost parents, children and relatives.
"The accident occurred at a time when things were a little upside down but we are glad the President was swift to make a decision of declaring it a state of disaster hence the quick assistance that is being rendered through the CPU.
"$50 000 was released under the Presidential Fund in my ministry for the accident victims. Another $8 400 came from the State Lottery to assist families of the victims," he said.
Dr Mpofu warned families of the accident victims not to fight over the financial benefits.
He said the money is not a Christmas present but an assistance fund for the injured and the bereaved.
"These monies should be used wisely, they are for children of the diseased members and the injured persons, and therefore they should get that full benefit.
We don't want to hear that uncles, aunts and small houses are fighting over these monies. We will definitely make follow-ups to see how they were used," Dr Mpofu said.
He said on Thursday he held a meeting with commanders of the police force, where he urged them to reduce road blocks and find ways of reducing road traffic accidents as people were perishing on the country's roads.
The team consisted of 69 people and the survivors suffered serious injuries.
The driver of the truck they were travelling in failed to negotiate a curve resulting in the vehicle overturning and rolling several times.
They were coming from Nkayi on their way to Jimila Clinic in Tsholotsho and the accident occurred about 300 metres away from their final destination.
The government had initially assisted the families of the bereaved with $21 000 to assist in the burial of their loved ones and treatment of those still admitted to hospitals.
Among senior officials that witnessed the handover were the Minister of Health and Child Care, Dr David Parirenyatwa, Matabeleland North provincial medical director Dr Nyasha Masuka, Matabeleland North provincial administrator, Ms Latiso Dlamini.
The officials visited the accident victims admitted to the hospital.
The officials were impressed by the good work being done by staff at Mpilo Central Hospital.
Zanu-PF national consultative assembly member Molly Mpofu said it had become rare to see civil servants applying themselves the way nurses and doctors were committed in treating the accident victims and other patients.
"I would like to thank Dr Masuka and these nurses here. I witnessed the way they have been running around since Saturday. I urge them to continue working hard. These people have remained on their toes since Saturday night," she said.
Source - chronicle
