2 die and five injured in Gwanda accident

Tragedy struck on Sunday evening as two people were killed and five others were injured in a road accident involving a bus and a kombi. The incident occurred 16 kilometers outside Gwanda along the Bulawayo-Gwanda Road.

Matabeleland South provincial police spokesperson, Inspector Loveness Mangena, confirmed the accident, explaining that the bus was en route from Bulawayo to Gwanda when it encountered sudden road hazards. The bus driver reportedly had to apply emergency brakes to avoid hitting donkeys that had wandered onto the road, causing a Nissan Liberty traveling ahead to halt abruptly. To avoid colliding with the stationary vehicle, the bus driver veered into the opposite lane, leading to a head-on collision with an oncoming kombi traveling from Gwanda to Bulawayo.

"I can confirm that we recorded a fatal road accident where two females lost their lives," Inspector Mangena told Chronicle. "Two passengers from the kombi were killed on the spot, while five others sustained injuries in the crash."

Emergency responders arrived at the scene, providing medical assistance to the injured, who were later taken to a nearby hospital for further treatment. The accident highlights ongoing concerns regarding road safety and the need for vigilance on highways, especially where stray animals pose a risk to drivers.