mbulelo smpofu
Leonard Ncube, leonard.ncube@chronicle.co.zw
TWO separate road accidents in Matabeleland North province have tragically claimed two lives and left three people injured.
The accidents occurred on December 19 and 20, according to Matabeleland North provincial police spokesperson Inspector Glory Banda.
Insp Banda said the first accident occurred near St Luke’s Hospital on December 19. Tafadzwa Clive Jani (32) of 6057 New Tafara, Harare, had parked a white Volvo haulage truck to rest by the extreme left side of the road facing Bulawayo at the 147km peg along the Bulawayo-Victoria Falls road, with no passengers on board.
Harmony Kashambwa (34), with no further particulars known, approached around 11pm driving a white Sino Hino haulage truck in the direction of Hwange with two passengers on board. On approaching the 147km peg, Kashambwa lost control of the vehicle, which veered off the road and hit the right side of Jani’s truck.
Due to the impact, a passenger, Francis Ndlovu of Lusulu in Binga, suffered head injuries and died on the spot.
Another passenger, Ishmael Melusi Moyo (34) of Thuthukani in Sipepa, sustained head injuries, while Kashambwa fractured his left leg.
Jani escaped unhurt.
Insp Banda said the second accident occurred when Raphael Tavonga Mupande (25) of 4214 Chinotimba, Victoria Falls, who was driving a white Kia belonging to a car hire company with one passenger on board, encountered a herd of cattle and lost control of the vehicle, which veered off the road and hit a tree a few kilometres outside Victoria Fall.
Mupande was driving towards Victoria Falls International Airport with one passenger, Christabel Willy Effere (30).
The cattle were crossing the road, and in trying to avoid them, Mupande lost control of the vehicle, which veered off the road and hit a tree.
Mupande sustained a cut on the head and bled from the nose and stomach, which caused his instant death, while Effere was injured. Effere sustained a broken right arm and was taken to Victoria Falls Hospital, where she was admitted.
The vehicles were damaged and towed to the Vehicle Inspectorate Department in Bulawayo and Victoria Falls.
Insp Banda implored the motoring public to drive responsibly with caution.
“Drivers should avoid driving under the influence of alcohol, angry, agitated or excited. With the onset of rain, most vehicles tend to lose traction on the roads as a result of aquaplaning. Drivers should avoid speeding and value the sanctity of life.
Meanwhile, our police teams have joined hands with the Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe for purposes of raising road traffic awareness through campaigns,” he said.–@ncubeleon
