7 die, 40 injured in accidents

SEVEN Zimbabweans died yesterday in three separate accidents in Musina, South Africa and in Bulawayo as the country continues to witness a spate of road accidents that have claimed the lives of nearly 100 people in one month.

In Musina, five Zimbabweans reportedly died following a collision between a Toyota Quantum and Sable Class bus (cross-border) they were travelling in between Musina and the Beitbridge Border Post yesterday morning. The accident occurred at about 4am, about 10km from Beitbridge Border Post. Limpopo Transport spokesperson Mr Matome Moremi said five people who were in the Toyota Quantum have been confirmed dead, while several others were injured. He said both the Toyota Quantum and the bus were travelling to Zimbabwe from Johannesburg. He said the Quantum made a sudden turn in front of the bus (near the China Mall) resulting in the collision.

"At around 03.37hrs this morning, on N1-North at Mussina check point Vhembe District, a cross-border Toyota Quantum turned in the face of oncoming traffic and collided with a cross border bus. They both were travelling from Gauteng. We are likely to get over five death cases and multiple injuries. Full information will follow later and will be communicated to the police," he said.

The bodies have been taken to Musina Hospital mortuary pending an identifications process. The incident comes shortly after 15 Zimbabweans were killed in two separate incidents (occurred two days apart) along the N1 highway outside Polokwane recently.

In the Bulawayo accident, one person died on the spot while 40 others were injured when a bus they were travelling in veered off the road and rammed into a pole before landing on its side along the Bulawayo-Old Victoria Falls Road yesterday morning.

The Tatenda Safaris bus was carrying 53 Roman Catholic Church choir members heading to Gweru. Bulawayo police deputy spokesman Inspector Abednico Ncube confirmed the accident.

"Yes, I can confirm the bus accident which occurred near Mpilo Hospital. The bus veered off the road, hit a pole and landed on its side. It was carrying 53 passengers of which only three passengers were not injured. A 23-year-old man died on the spot after sustaining multiple injuries while more than 40 were injured. Those who were injured were taken to Mpilo, some who were treated have already been discharged," he said.

He urged drivers to drive with caution and also check for passenger safety. Mpilo Central Hospital spokesman Mr Ozias Ndlovu said the institution attended to 47 people who were injured in the Tatenda Safaris bus accident.

"We attended to 47 people and out of the 47 three were admitted, that is two females and one male but their conditions are stable, they are out of danger. The other 45 were seen and discharged. However, one died on the spot," he said.

According to some sources the driver lost control of the bus  leading to the accident.

Tatenda Safaris owner Mr Tafadzwa Gunda, yesterday extended his condolences to the family of the deceased.

"This is such an unfortunate event. I especially feel sorry for the family of the young boy who died. We will assist the family with the funeral bills. We have already bought medicine worth $400 for some of the people who were injured as a way of showing our sympathy," he said.

The latest accidents come at a time when the country is still to identify the bodies of 32 passengers who were burnt to death recently when a Musina bound Brooklyn Express Bus caught fire at the 182km peg along the Bulawayo- Beitbridge Road near West Nicholson area in Gwanda. Earlier this month, 47 people died in another horrific accident involving two buses which occurred at the 166km peg along the Harare-Mutare Highway.

Meanwhile, a man died last night when he was hit by a car at a robot controlled intersection in Fourwinds, Bulawayo. When Sunday News visited the place last night, police were still to collect the body of the deceased.