Remove Bulawayo-Beitbridge Accident Pictures

The Zimbabwe Unemployed People’s Association (ZUPA), which represents the interests of millions of unemployed Zimbabweans, is shocked to learn of the tragic traffic accident that took the lives of 12 Zimbabweans including a child with six being burnt beyond recognition.

We are encouraged by the work of the media to cover the tragic story but find the publishing of gruesome pictures of the victims, by some papers to be unfortunate and out of step with the standard ethics of journalism at such a time.

ZUPA Matabeleland wishes to express deepest sympathy and condolences to the families and friends of Candice, Nozimuhle and Ephraim Sibanda from Nkulumane, Gideon Ncube from Emganwini, Percy Dlamini and Thandiwe Siwela from Pumula North, Thandeka Ndebele from Emakhandeni, Dalubuhle Ncube from Entumbane, Lungile Ndlovu from Nkulumane and Nkosinathi Ndlovu from Makokoba and 2 others yet to be identified.

At this time of mourning for the families and friends of the 12, our members in Matabeleland have raised concerns that some media outlets have published disturbing pictures of burnt remains of the victims in a manner that departs from our cultural values, respect for the deceased and their families and potential trauma to society.

ZUPA Matabeleland now kindly appeals to online newspapers and those covering future print to remove the disturbing pictures of the remains of the victims and instead use profile pictures of the deceased obtainable from the families as is standard ethical journalism internationally.

We also appeal to Government to reflect on the reasons why the young Zimbabweans would have needed to travel to South Africa by working with ZUPA to ensure that Zimbabweans have access to economic opportunities and jobs here at home.

The accident is reported to have occurred on Monday night April 9th at the 181km peg along the Bulawayo-Beitbridge Road when a South African registered Toyota Hilux double-cab truck allegedly encroached onto the lane of an oncoming Volvo haulage truck. All the victims are reported to have been on their way to South Africa.

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