RUSAPE – A dark cloud descended upon Chipinge Junior Primary School yesterday following a devastating bus accident that claimed the life of one teacher and left 59 others injured, three critically, along the Harare-Mutare highway near Rusape.
The hired Gold Class bus, carrying pupils and staff returning from a school trip in Harare, overturned at approximately 2:30 pm near Crofton Farm, around the 165km peg.
The accident’s grim details emerged as the injured were rushed to Rusape General Hospital. Three pupils, suffering serious head injuries, were later transferred to Harare Hospital for specialised care. One teacher tragically perished at the scene, trapped beneath the wreckage after being thrown from the bus.
Makoni District Schools Inspector (DSI), Mr George Chidwakwa, who was present at the scene, confirmed the heartbreaking news.
“It is true that the bus carrying school children and teachers from Chipinge Junior Primary School was involved in an accident in Rusape while on their way from Harare. The bus was carrying 53 school children, six teachers and an SDC member. We have one female teacher who died on the spot after being trapped under the bus,” he stated.
The Makoni District Development Coordinator (DDC), Mr Edwin Mashindi, heading the district’s civil protection unit (CPU), provided further details on the casualties.
“One teacher died after being trapped by the bus while three children who sustained serious head injuries were transferred to Harare Hospital. The rest of the victims have been admitted at Rusape General Hospital, and their condition is stable. Nobody has been discharged,” he reported.
Meanwhile, the Makoni District Medical Officer (DMO), Dr Tendai Nyafesa, offered an update on the medical situation at Rusape General Hospital.
“At the moment we are still busy treating the patients, most of whom escaped with minor injuries, with the exception of three pupils who sustained serious head injuries that require special care. We will give you further details later,” Dr Nyafesa explained.
National police spokesperson, Commissioner Paul Nyathi, attributed the cause of the accident to a combination of reckless driving and adverse conditions.
“On approaching the 165km peg along the Harare-Mutare Road, the driver tried to overtake a haulage truck. Due to speeding, he lost control of the bus. The bus veered off the road to the right side, overturned and landed on its left side facing the northern direction. The Zimbabwe Republic Police has established that one female adult died on the spot. 25 students and six adults were injured. They have been taken to Rusape General Hospital,” Commissioner Nyathi detailed.
He explicitly stated that the overtaking manoeuvre was performed in front of oncoming traffic, under slippery road conditions.
