News / National
Rusape bus crash declared a national disaster
09 Nov 2018 at 05:05hrs | Views
Government has declared a state of national disaster an accident in which 46 people were killed when two buses side-swapped at the 166-kilometre peg along Harare-Mutare highway on Wednesday evening.
The accident involved two buses, Bolt Cutter and Smart Express. A state of national disaster allows the State to mobilise resources to assist the injured and bereaved families with cash and burial arrangements. Government has already provided $25 000 towards the victims of the accident.
The Insurance Council of Zimbabwe will settle all hospital bills while funeral services provider FSG and Nyaradzo Funeral Services will assist with coffins and transporting the deceased to their final resting places. The total monetary assistance to each of the bereaved families is $1350.
President Mnangagwa yesterday called for a robust response from traffic enforcement agents to put an end to rampant lawlessness on the country's roads.
In his condolence message, President Mnangagwa said he had learnt with deep sadness of the death of 46 innocent souls, saying the fact that many lives were lost in just one traffic accident raised serious questions about the behaviour of drivers on the country's roads especially those operating passenger services.
"The use of vehicles that are not roadworthy, or drivers who do not seem to care for passenger safety, amount to criminal breach of trust between bus operators and paying commuters who expect and deserve safe transit," he said.
"Both the responsible ministry and our law enforcement agents must use this bloody accident to close in on all bus operators, drivers and road users who put profit and speed above life, thus causing avoidable carnage on our roads."
He said the lawlessness now evident on the country's highways and dense urban roads must be met with a robust response from traffic enforcement agents whose duty is to ensure a culture of compliance and safety on the roads.
President Mnangagwa added, "In view of the magnitude of the loss of human life in this one incident, I have since directed that the responsible ministry takes steps to declare this accident a national disaster in order to enable the mobilisation of resources both for treatment of all those injured, and for support to families which have lost their loved ones."
Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister July Moyo said the scale of the tragic loss of life was unacceptably high.
"My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved. I have ordered the civil protection structures at Rusape and Manicaland Province to swiftly and compassionately attend to the affected. The Civil Protection Directorate is working with the Insurance Council of Zimbabwe on the assistance to be rendered to the bereaved. All necessary measures will be taken to assist the affected," he said.
Yesterday Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Joel Biggie Matiza and Manicaland Minister of State Dr Ellen Gwaradzimba visited the Rusape bus accident scene and the injured at Rusape General Hospital. Minister Matiza consoled the bereaved families saying government would take a serious look at strategies that could be implemented to curb the loss of lives on the roads.
Briefing the Ministers, ZRP Rusape Superintendent (administration) Richard Gatsi said so far 46 people had been confirmed dead.
From the 46, 24 were men, 17 females and 5 children. He said 30 people had now been identified by their relatives adding that 40 people died on the spot while six died on the way to the hospital or upon admission.
Rusape General Hospital acting matron Sister Josephine Chisamba said as of last night, they had attended to 81 patients and admitted 52. She said five people who had been seriously injured had been transferred to Harare. The director of the Civil Protection Unit, Mr Nathan Nkomo, said each family would receive $500.
"Following the tragic accident Government has released $25 000. We have increased the amount from $200 to $500. We have also established a command centre in Rusape. The Insurance Council will also release some funds towards the cause.
"The deceased are at Rusape mortuary which can only accommodate 16 while the others are at Nyaradzo Funerals, Rusape. The two buses are insured."
The worst accident recorded in the country is the Nyanga Bus Disaster of 1991 which claimed 88 lives, most of them Regina Coeli pupils and staff members. Others include the 1982 Dande accident that killed 61 farmers and many others.
In June last year 45 people were killed when a Zambia-bound King Lion bus rammed into a tree in the Nyamakate area in Hurungwe. In August 2009 in an accident known as the Mhunga Bus Disaster, 40 people were killed along the Harare-Masvingo Highway in a mishap involving a Mhunga Bus and a haulage truck.
In March 2007, a commuter omnibus claimed 35 after it was hit by a train at a rail crossing. Another Mhunga Bus in November 2002 was involved in a head on collision with a haulage truck with the accident claiming 37 lives.
Zanu-PF yesterday mourned the victims of the bus tragedy. The party's spokesperson Simon Khaya Moyo called on authorities to bring to book those that are responsible for the horrific accident.
"The Zanu-PF party ably led by President Mnangagwa and its entire membership has been shocked to learn of the tragic collision of two buses on Wednesday night near Rusape, where 47 perished and several others were injured.
"This is chilling, heartrending, horrific and unimaginable. The revolutionary party mourns the departed, consoles the bereaved and wishes the injured speedy recovery," said Simon Khaya Moyo.
He added that those responsible for such accidents, be they owners of the buses or crew must be brought to book.
"Our roads can't be turned into slaughter highways. May the Good Lord embrace and bless these affected families," said Khaya Moyo.
The accident involved two buses, Bolt Cutter and Smart Express. A state of national disaster allows the State to mobilise resources to assist the injured and bereaved families with cash and burial arrangements. Government has already provided $25 000 towards the victims of the accident.
The Insurance Council of Zimbabwe will settle all hospital bills while funeral services provider FSG and Nyaradzo Funeral Services will assist with coffins and transporting the deceased to their final resting places. The total monetary assistance to each of the bereaved families is $1350.
President Mnangagwa yesterday called for a robust response from traffic enforcement agents to put an end to rampant lawlessness on the country's roads.
In his condolence message, President Mnangagwa said he had learnt with deep sadness of the death of 46 innocent souls, saying the fact that many lives were lost in just one traffic accident raised serious questions about the behaviour of drivers on the country's roads especially those operating passenger services.
"The use of vehicles that are not roadworthy, or drivers who do not seem to care for passenger safety, amount to criminal breach of trust between bus operators and paying commuters who expect and deserve safe transit," he said.
"Both the responsible ministry and our law enforcement agents must use this bloody accident to close in on all bus operators, drivers and road users who put profit and speed above life, thus causing avoidable carnage on our roads."
He said the lawlessness now evident on the country's highways and dense urban roads must be met with a robust response from traffic enforcement agents whose duty is to ensure a culture of compliance and safety on the roads.
President Mnangagwa added, "In view of the magnitude of the loss of human life in this one incident, I have since directed that the responsible ministry takes steps to declare this accident a national disaster in order to enable the mobilisation of resources both for treatment of all those injured, and for support to families which have lost their loved ones."
Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister July Moyo said the scale of the tragic loss of life was unacceptably high.
"My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved. I have ordered the civil protection structures at Rusape and Manicaland Province to swiftly and compassionately attend to the affected. The Civil Protection Directorate is working with the Insurance Council of Zimbabwe on the assistance to be rendered to the bereaved. All necessary measures will be taken to assist the affected," he said.
Yesterday Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Joel Biggie Matiza and Manicaland Minister of State Dr Ellen Gwaradzimba visited the Rusape bus accident scene and the injured at Rusape General Hospital. Minister Matiza consoled the bereaved families saying government would take a serious look at strategies that could be implemented to curb the loss of lives on the roads.
From the 46, 24 were men, 17 females and 5 children. He said 30 people had now been identified by their relatives adding that 40 people died on the spot while six died on the way to the hospital or upon admission.
Rusape General Hospital acting matron Sister Josephine Chisamba said as of last night, they had attended to 81 patients and admitted 52. She said five people who had been seriously injured had been transferred to Harare. The director of the Civil Protection Unit, Mr Nathan Nkomo, said each family would receive $500.
"Following the tragic accident Government has released $25 000. We have increased the amount from $200 to $500. We have also established a command centre in Rusape. The Insurance Council will also release some funds towards the cause.
"The deceased are at Rusape mortuary which can only accommodate 16 while the others are at Nyaradzo Funerals, Rusape. The two buses are insured."
The worst accident recorded in the country is the Nyanga Bus Disaster of 1991 which claimed 88 lives, most of them Regina Coeli pupils and staff members. Others include the 1982 Dande accident that killed 61 farmers and many others.
In June last year 45 people were killed when a Zambia-bound King Lion bus rammed into a tree in the Nyamakate area in Hurungwe. In August 2009 in an accident known as the Mhunga Bus Disaster, 40 people were killed along the Harare-Masvingo Highway in a mishap involving a Mhunga Bus and a haulage truck.
In March 2007, a commuter omnibus claimed 35 after it was hit by a train at a rail crossing. Another Mhunga Bus in November 2002 was involved in a head on collision with a haulage truck with the accident claiming 37 lives.
Zanu-PF yesterday mourned the victims of the bus tragedy. The party's spokesperson Simon Khaya Moyo called on authorities to bring to book those that are responsible for the horrific accident.
"The Zanu-PF party ably led by President Mnangagwa and its entire membership has been shocked to learn of the tragic collision of two buses on Wednesday night near Rusape, where 47 perished and several others were injured.
"This is chilling, heartrending, horrific and unimaginable. The revolutionary party mourns the departed, consoles the bereaved and wishes the injured speedy recovery," said Simon Khaya Moyo.
He added that those responsible for such accidents, be they owners of the buses or crew must be brought to book.
"Our roads can't be turned into slaughter highways. May the Good Lord embrace and bless these affected families," said Khaya Moyo.
Source - chronicle
