News / Regional
2 killed, 37 injured on their way to Mugabe's 91st birthday jamboree
01 Mar 2015 at 13:01hrs | Views
TWO people died and 37 others were injured early yesterday morning when a bus they were travelling in from Masvingo to Victoria Falls collided with a haulage truck at the 203km peg along the Masvingo-Mbalabala road.
Police could not reveal the names of the deceased yesterday as their next of kin were yet to be informed.
Witnesses say the bus, belonging to Atlantic Travel Tours, owned by Masvingo Urban legislator, Daniel Shumba, was ferrying people from Masvingo to Victoria Falls for President Mugabe's birthday celebrations.
National police spokesperson Chief Superintendent Paul Nyathi confirmed the accident and said the injured passengers were taken to United Bulawayo Hospitals, Esigodini and Filabusi hospitals for treatment.
Chief Sup Nyathi, however, could not confirm reports that the passengers were on their way to the 21st February Movement celebrations when the accident occurred.
"We are still carrying out investigations, so at the moment I have not been furnished with details of where the people were going.
"What I can confirm now is that two people died this morning (yesterday) at around 1.30am when a bus, Atlantic Travel Tours, going to Victoria Falls was involved in a head on collision with a haulage truck.
"There were 79 passengers on board and 37 were injured, while the rest escaped unhurt," he said.
Chief Sup Nyathi said police were still conducting investigations into the accident after which more details would be released.
He appealed to members of the public to exercise caution when driving on the country's roads and highways to avoid accidents and loss of lives.
Police could not reveal the names of the deceased yesterday as their next of kin were yet to be informed.
Witnesses say the bus, belonging to Atlantic Travel Tours, owned by Masvingo Urban legislator, Daniel Shumba, was ferrying people from Masvingo to Victoria Falls for President Mugabe's birthday celebrations.
National police spokesperson Chief Superintendent Paul Nyathi confirmed the accident and said the injured passengers were taken to United Bulawayo Hospitals, Esigodini and Filabusi hospitals for treatment.
Chief Sup Nyathi, however, could not confirm reports that the passengers were on their way to the 21st February Movement celebrations when the accident occurred.
"We are still carrying out investigations, so at the moment I have not been furnished with details of where the people were going.
"What I can confirm now is that two people died this morning (yesterday) at around 1.30am when a bus, Atlantic Travel Tours, going to Victoria Falls was involved in a head on collision with a haulage truck.
"There were 79 passengers on board and 37 were injured, while the rest escaped unhurt," he said.
Chief Sup Nyathi said police were still conducting investigations into the accident after which more details would be released.
He appealed to members of the public to exercise caution when driving on the country's roads and highways to avoid accidents and loss of lives.
Source - sundaynews
