MARTIN MAWAYA
GOKWE – One person died while 10 others escaped with varying injuries when a vehicle they were traveling in veered off at Sesame Bridge and fell into the gorge.
The Sesame Bridge, which links Nembudziya and Gokwe South District, was ripped apart by floods in December last year.
Midlands police spokesperson, Inspector Emmanuel Mahoko, confirmed the incident that occurred last Thursday at around 6 a.m.
He said Gilbert Mushandu, who was coming from Nemangwe towards Nembudziya, was traveling with his family to a funeral and lost control of his Mazda Eagle twin cab.
According to Insp Mahoko, Mushandu was not aware that the bridge was swept away by the floods which pounded the country in December.
He told The Midweek Watch that Mushandu reached the 1 km mark by the Sesame River, and failed to realize that the bridge was no longer there.
Tragically, the vehicle plunged into the gorge and a young woman named Trish Dzipe, aged 23, lost her life in the accident, added Mahoko.
He said the injured were taken to Gokwe South District Hospital, where they are all admitted and in serious condition.
Insp Mahoko urged motorists to be vigilant on the roads which they are familiar with to avoid such incidents.
The collapse of Sesame Bridge has had serious repercussions, with traffic being re-routed and local communities facing significant travel challenges.
The destruction of the bridge has also been attributed to stream bank cultivation by locals.
