MARTIN MAWAYA
HARARE-Deadly road traffic accidents have claimed the lives of 16 people in four separate accidents during the Heroes’ and Defense Forces’ holiday in the Marondera, Harare, and Nyanga.
In the Marondera accident, a Toyota Iris carrying seven passengers collided head-on with a Freightliner truck on Monday around 3 pm along the Harare-Mutare Road, killing five people and injuring three others.
The victims were identified as Alice Mavhudzi (46), Letty Mandaza (30), and Tapiwa Mabiza (40), while two others are yet to be identified.
In Harare, a Toyota Hiace kombi carrying 15 passengers sideswiped a Mazda Bongo Van with four passengers, and then collided head-on with a Nissan Caravan kombi carrying 18 passengers.
The accident claimed the lives of three people namely; Wayne Chipuriro (42), Pecking Feliati (40), and Christable Makwanya (32).
Another accident happened along the Nyanga-Rwenya Road, where a Hino Dutro Truck carrying 64 church congregants veered off the road.
Five people were killed, and 60 others were injured, with some passengers being thrown out of the truck and others dragged for approximately 30 meters.
On August 12th, a Nissan Caravan kombi carrying 12 passengers overturned on the Magadzire-Dazi dust road near Nyagoma Village, Tangwena, Nyanga, resulting in the deaths of three people and leaving six others injured.
National police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi has urged drivers to avoid speeding and encouraged church leaders to put in place appropriate measures to transport large groups of congregants to prevent tragic road accidents.
