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Probe launched into crash that killed Highlanders executives
3 hrs ago |
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Investigations are underway into the road traffic accident that claimed the lives of three senior Highlanders Football Club executives along the Harare-Bulawayo Highway on Thursday night, with preliminary information suggesting the vehicle may have struck a cow before colliding with an oncoming bus.
The crash occurred about 60 kilometres outside Bulawayo and claimed the lives of Highlanders chairman Retired Colonel Kenneth Mhlophe, vice-chairman Sifiso Siziba and executive committee member responsible for finance Nkani Khoza.
Bulawayo Chief Fire Officer Mhlangano Moyo said emergency services responded to the scene and rescued occupants trapped inside the wreckage of a Ford Ranger Raptor.
He stressed that investigations were still ongoing and that the exact cause of the accident had not yet been established.
"We attended the accident. It's really difficult because the information we have at the moment is that the vehicle hit a cow before colliding with an oncoming bus. Thereafter, there was a pile-up of vehicles at the scene," Moyo said.
"But from our assessment of the impact, the vehicles were travelling at a high speed, judging from the severity of the damage and the extent of the entrapment of the people we rescued."
By the time of publication, the Zimbabwe Republic Police had not released an official account of the accident, saying investigations were continuing.
The Highlanders officials were returning from Kariba after Bosso's 1-0 defeat to ZPC Kariba in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match earlier that day.
In a statement, Highlanders Football Club paid tribute to the three executives, describing them as dedicated leaders whose contributions had shaped the club.
"They were the architects of the club's vision, the guardians of our values, and father figures to so many within the Highlanders Football Club family," the club said.
The deaths have sent shockwaves through Zimbabwe's football fraternity, with tributes continuing to pour in from Government officials, football administrators, clubs and supporters across the country.
Authorities are expected to release further details once investigations into the circumstances surrounding the crash have been completed.
The crash occurred about 60 kilometres outside Bulawayo and claimed the lives of Highlanders chairman Retired Colonel Kenneth Mhlophe, vice-chairman Sifiso Siziba and executive committee member responsible for finance Nkani Khoza.
Bulawayo Chief Fire Officer Mhlangano Moyo said emergency services responded to the scene and rescued occupants trapped inside the wreckage of a Ford Ranger Raptor.
He stressed that investigations were still ongoing and that the exact cause of the accident had not yet been established.
"We attended the accident. It's really difficult because the information we have at the moment is that the vehicle hit a cow before colliding with an oncoming bus. Thereafter, there was a pile-up of vehicles at the scene," Moyo said.
"But from our assessment of the impact, the vehicles were travelling at a high speed, judging from the severity of the damage and the extent of the entrapment of the people we rescued."
The Highlanders officials were returning from Kariba after Bosso's 1-0 defeat to ZPC Kariba in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match earlier that day.
In a statement, Highlanders Football Club paid tribute to the three executives, describing them as dedicated leaders whose contributions had shaped the club.
"They were the architects of the club's vision, the guardians of our values, and father figures to so many within the Highlanders Football Club family," the club said.
The deaths have sent shockwaves through Zimbabwe's football fraternity, with tributes continuing to pour in from Government officials, football administrators, clubs and supporters across the country.
Authorities are expected to release further details once investigations into the circumstances surrounding the crash have been completed.
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