News / National
Zupco bus accident death toll now 14
07 Aug 2014 at 06:07hrs | Views
The death toll in the accident involving a cross-border Zupco bus and a haulage truck along the Harare-Nyamapanda Highway on Monday has risen to 14 after another passenger died at Parirenyatwa Hospital yesterday.
This came as the identification of the dead was still underway yesterday, with the names expected to be released today.
The accident involving the Zupco bus which was travelling from Malawi to Harare and a Nyamapanda-bound haulage truck occurred at the 22-kilometre peg along the Harare-Nyamapanda Road.
Police spokesperson Chief Superintendent Paul Nyathi said some of the next of kin of the deceased were still to be contacted.
"The identification process has been difficult and it is still underway," he said.
"We expect to be through with the process tomorrow (today) and the names will be released."
It is believed that some of the deceased were foreigners and it would take sometime to contact their next of kin.
Secretary-general of the Zimbabwe Passengers Association Mr Paul Makiwa expressed concern over the increased road carnage.
"We are losing our beloved ones everyday due to road accidents and we as the Zimbabwe Passengers Association, cannot seat and relax while the safety of passengers is on the line," he said.
The accident, coming as it did a few days before the Heroes and Defence Forces holidays on Monday and Tuesday next week, has prompted calls for effective policing of the highways.
Last year, 38 people died, while 70 others were injured in 283 road accidents recorded countrywide during the same period.
This came as the identification of the dead was still underway yesterday, with the names expected to be released today.
The accident involving the Zupco bus which was travelling from Malawi to Harare and a Nyamapanda-bound haulage truck occurred at the 22-kilometre peg along the Harare-Nyamapanda Road.
Police spokesperson Chief Superintendent Paul Nyathi said some of the next of kin of the deceased were still to be contacted.
"The identification process has been difficult and it is still underway," he said.
It is believed that some of the deceased were foreigners and it would take sometime to contact their next of kin.
Secretary-general of the Zimbabwe Passengers Association Mr Paul Makiwa expressed concern over the increased road carnage.
"We are losing our beloved ones everyday due to road accidents and we as the Zimbabwe Passengers Association, cannot seat and relax while the safety of passengers is on the line," he said.
The accident, coming as it did a few days before the Heroes and Defence Forces holidays on Monday and Tuesday next week, has prompted calls for effective policing of the highways.
Last year, 38 people died, while 70 others were injured in 283 road accidents recorded countrywide during the same period.
Source - The Herald
