Senior JM Poly lecturer killed in Gwanda Kombi Accident

A senior lecturer at Gwanda's Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Polytechnic Ms Thabani Ntabeni died in a road accident on Thursday afternoon.

Ntabeni died on the spot when a Toyota Granvia Commuter Omnibus they were travelling in from Bulawayo to Gwanda burst a rear tyre and rolled several times. Three other people including the driver whose names were not immediately available also died on the spot.

Six passengers were rushed to Gwanda Hospital where two were transferred to the United Bulawayo Hospital in critical conditions. According to eye witnesses and survivors the driver of the Toyota Granvia was travelling at a speed higher than the 80 km per hour regulated for public transport vehicles. Skid marks on the scene of the accident confirm that the vehicle was travelling at a high speed.

Government has for a while now been contemplating removing the Japanese manufactured vehicle from being a public transport vehicle following numerous accidents involving these vehicles.

A family spokesperson confirmed that Ms Ntabeni will be buried at her rural home in Gokwe South on Sunday. Meanwhile, mourners in Gwanda will see off the seasoned lecturer at a short service to be held at her home at the old Gwanda Zintec site on Friday evening before departure to Gokwe.