Business executive killed in plane crash
BUSINESS executive Mr George Sibanda was one of the two Zimbabweans killed in Friday’s plane crash that took place in the Zvamahande area near Mashava, Masvingo province.
Six people died in the accident after a Cessna 206 plane owned by diamond miner Murowa Diamond Company, a subsidiary of Rio Zim, crashed around 7 am.
Mr Sibanda was recently appointed chief executive officer of Rio Zim and was undergoing orientation ahead of relocating from South Africa to work in Zimbabwe full-time.
The plane had taken off from Harare and was going to Murowa Diamonds Mine.
It shattered into a wreckage pile on impact with the ground.
Authorities are still investigating the case. In a statement, police spokesman Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said: “The Murowa Diamonds Mine-owned white and red aircraft had left Harare for the mine at 6 am and crashed about six kilometres from Mashava. “The victims are two Zimbabweans and four foreign nationals.” This is the second plane crash involving a Rio Zim plane in eight months. In a statement yesterday, RioZim said the company was working with authorities to gather more information. “We shall share fuller details with all relevant stakeholders once the next of kin have been notified. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families devastated by this tragedy,” said Tafadzwa Gova, the group corporate affairs executive.
Mr Elias Bvudzo (42) of Lochinvar A, village Tichagwa under Chief Bere, who was the first to arrive at the crash site told our sister publication, The Herald, that he noticed that something was amiss while the plane was still airborne.
“I was on my way to morning prayers just before 8 am when I saw the plane coming from the north east direction,” he said.
“It was making a strange loud noise that we are not used to hearing when planes pass through this area and I figured that something was wrong. Within minutes, the plane started circling the same place and then crashed.
“I rushed to the crash site only to discover that all the persons inside had died.
“I phoned other villagers since there was nothing that I could do (on my own).”
In February, another plane flying diamonds to Harare made an emergency landing on a field near Beatrice, injuring the five people on board.