A fatal road accident in Gokwe on Wednesday claimed the lives of 10 individuals, leading to intensified calls for stricter road safety enforcement and increased caution among motorists as Zimbabwe grapples with a surge in deadly traffic incidents.
Honourable Owen Ncube, the Midlands Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, visited survivors receiving treatment at Gweru Provincial Hospital after they were transferred from Gokwe for specialized care.
The tragedy unfolded during a routine journey from Gokwe to Harare, involving more than 35 passengers on a Trip Trans bus.
The bus was involved in a horrific crash, resulting in the death of ten people on the spot, while several others sustained serious
injuries.
Families and survivors are now left to cope with trauma and loss.
Among the survivors is Cecilia Musarumana, who described her escape from the crash as miraculous.
“I boarded a vehicle that had continuous breakdowns, and then we switched to this bus, which also had repeated issues.
I thought maybe I shouldn’t have been on the bus.
Frankly, I don’t know what happened.
All I remember is being stuck inside, unable to move my legs until some people rescued me. It is a painful experience,” she recounted.
Dr. Fabian Mashingaidze, the Medical Superintendent at Gweru Provincial Hospital, reported that six critically injured patients were transferred from the crash scene.
“We received six patients from the scene, two of whom unfortunately passed away upon arrival at the hospital.
The remaining four are being cared for after sustaining severe lower limb fractures involving the tibia and fibula.
One of the patients required a blood transfusion before undergoing surgery for internal fixation procedures.
We are hopeful they are now stable, and our surgeons will continue to manage their conditions,” he said.
Honourable Ncube expressed condolences to the bereaved families, stating that the Government would assist with burial arrangements.
“This week alone, we have seen two accidents in the Midlands, resulting in the loss of six lives along the Harare-Bulawayo Road.
The Government of Zimbabwe will support the funerals.
On behalf of the government, I extend my deepest condolences and urge motorists to exercise extreme caution on our roads,” he said.
Authorities continue to attribute most fatal road traffic accidents to human error, with reckless driving, speeding, and negligence
identified as leading causes of crashes across the country.
This latest tragedy raises further concerns about road safety, as preventable accidents continue to claim lives, causing devastating
social and economic consequences for families and communities.
