Gweru accident that claimed 3 lives, careless driver blamed

Tinashe Zisengwe

While some are attributing the recent Gweru tragic accident where 3 family members perished to potholes, most eyewitnesses are casting the blame upon the Kombi driver who is alleged to have been over speeding and carelessly driving, The Sun revealed.

Allegations are that the unidentified driver was rushing from Mkoba to the city centre since it was peak hour time and he was driving in the wrong lane trying to evade potholes which he failed to negotiate leading to the loss of steering control, running over the trio who were walking on the sideways.

The witnesses said the now deceased were dragged for about two meters while under the Coaster commuter omnibus as the driver tried to speed away from the scene.

The driver later stopped but bolted from the scene leaving his vehicle and attempted to commit suicide.

He later handed himself to the police and is assisting with investigations.

A family spokesperson, Trust Mugovera, identified the deceased as Moreblessing Mharakurwa (20), her daughter Anopaishe Mugovera (1) and sister-in-law Tendai Mugovera (11) who was in Grade Six at Pakame Primary School in Shurugwi.

“We lost three family members over the weekend they were hit by a commuter omnibus that was rushing to town for passengers.

They were walking coming from the barber shop when this commuter omnibus, which was travelling in the wrong lane as the driver was avoiding potholes, hit them they all died on the spot,” said Mr Mugovera.

He said they were still to come to terms with the sudden death of their relatives.

“What is hurting us the most is the fact that the driver of the vehicle hasn’t shown up to apologise. He ran away leaving the three trapped under his vehicle,” Mr Mugovera said.

He said mourners were gathered at 2870/1 Mkoba 16.

The deceased are expected to be buried today at Mutasa cemetery in Gweru.

Meanwhile, the Gweru City Council director of Engineering Robson Manatsa and some police officers visited the scene of the accident.

Acting Midlands Provincial police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Ethel Mkwende directed this publication to the national police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba.

Last week, 14 people were killed along the Bulawayo-Gwanda Highway near the National University of Science and Technology and a pothole was blamed for the accident.