4 die in kombi crash Widow appeals for help to settle bill

FOUR people were killed, while 11 others were injured when a Masvingo-bound commuter omnibus collided head-on with a Honda Fit along the Harare-Masvingo highway.

The accident occurred at the 44km peg near Beatrice on Sunday afternoon when a commuter omnibus tried to overtake at a blind curve, resulting in a fatal accident.

Zimbabwe Republic Police national spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba confirmed the accident in a statement.

“ZRP confirms the death of four people in a fatal road traffic accident that occurred on the 44km peg along the Harare-Masvingo Road near Beatrice,” she said.

“Circumstances are that a Honda Fit with three passengers on board was traveling towards Harare while a Toyota Hiace with 10 passengers on board was traveling towards Masvingo.

“On approaching a curve at the 44km peg along the said road, the driver of the Toyota Hiace tried to overtake in front of the oncoming Honda Fit resulting in a head-on collision.”

She said three people died on the spot and one is admitted to Chitungwiza Central Hospital.

“Three people died on spot and the fourth died on admission to Chitungwiza General Hospital. A WIDOW, Mrs Bridget Madei of Murehwa, who lost her husband following an accident involving two commuter omnibuses along the Harare-Nyamapanda Highway in 2017, is appealing for assistance to settle a medical bill of $3 000.

Mr Tigus Madei accrued the bill during the time he was admitted to Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals due to injuries sustained in the accident.

The accident was declared a state of disaster after it claimed 13 lives.

It occurred when one of the drivers sought to evade a police roadblock, resulting in a head-on collision with the other commuter omnibus.

Mrs Madei said she was now under pressure from the hospital to settle the bill, after she received $200 from Government to cover funeral expenses.

“All the bodies of the deceased are at Chitungwiza General Hospital Mortuary awaiting post-mortem,” she said.

She appealed to road users to ensure that the road is clear ahead of them before attempting to overtake.

The commuter omnibus that her husband was travelling in, which is owned by Mr Aleck Nyamayedenga, did not have a valid passenger liability insurance that would have enabled her to get money to cover the medical bill.

Passenger Association of Zimbabwe president Mr Tafadzwa Goliath expressed concern over public transport operators operating without passengers liability insurance.

He called on Government to impose stiffer penalties on such operators.

“We have noted with concern that most of public transport operators are operating without passenger’s insurance cover,” said Mr Goliath.

“We are appealing to the Government to impose stiffer penalties on public transport operators who are just after making profits while neglecting the welfare of their passengers.”

“This is yet another fatal road accident as a result of human error, we urge motorists to observe road rules and regulations and ensure that road is clear before attempting to overtake,” she said.