Harare – A pall of grief hangs over Dzivarasekwa following Wednesday’s horrific accident at the Dzivarasekwa turn-off, near Thuli Service Station, which claimed the lives of seven people and left eight others injured.
Adding to the heartbreak, it has been revealed that one of the victims was an innocent bystander, caught in the crossfire of the deadly crash. The incident occurred along the Harare-Bulawayo Road, a stretch known for its dangerous road conditions and often referred to as “Pamagetsi.”
Transport Minister Felix Mhona has laid the blame squarely on the shoulders of the kombi driver, stating that the accident was caused by his reckless failure to give way at a traffic light-controlled junction.
“It is concerning to note that the commuter omnibus was not certified to be road worthy and not authorized to carry passengers, and the driver did not have the requisite competencies to drive a passenger service vehicle,” Minister Mhona said in a statement released late Wednesday. “The failure by the commuter omnibus driver to give way was reckless and thus a blatant violation of our road traffic rules and regulations.”
The Minister has promised stringent measures to safeguard lives from further road carnage, declaring, “I wish to remind and warn all transport operators, motorists, and members of the public that the Ministry will take stern measures to preserve the safety and security of the commuting public.”
However, for many, these words offer little comfort in the face of such devastating loss.
Adding a shocking twist to the tragedy, H-Metro, a local daily tabloid, has reported that the kombi driver, identified as 27-year-old Guylord Hunda, was actually a conductor and did not possess a valid driver’s license. Hunda was allegedly supposed to hand over the Toyota Hiace to the licensed driver of the daily Mbare-Dzivarasekwa route, who was waiting at the Warren Park turn-off.
According to reports, Hunda, who sustained head injuries in the crash, was actively seeking passengers when the incident occurred. He already had 17 passengers on board when he reversed the kombi, leading to the fatal collision with the UD truck, which then crashed into a broken-down van.
Police reports indicate that the kombi failed to stop at a traffic light-controlled intersection, leading to the initial collision with the haulage truck. At the scene, Hunda was unable to produce a driver’s license when traffic police conducted their investigation. The haulage truck was driven by 37-year-old Munyaradzi Mapuranga.
The commuter omnibus itself was also found wanting, lacking a permit for its route and deemed unfit to carry passengers.
Hebert Karimazondo, a Dzivarasekwa resident who narrowly avoided becoming a victim himself, has called on authorities to install speed humps at the accident black spot. Karimazondo had been chasing the kombi in Dzivarasekwa, hoping to catch a ride, but the driver failed to notice him.
“I cannot believe that I survived the tragedy because I was supposed to be among the victims,” said Karimazondo. “The driver failed to stop when I waved and shouted for him to wait for me as the kombi left Dzivarasekwa 3. Some people actually thought I got into the kombi, including my neighbour, Mai Alice who was calling my name when she arrived at the scene, thinking I was among the victims.”
Karimazondo witnessed the tragedy unfold. He believes the UD truck driver was speeding along Bulawayo Road and ended up hitting the kombi, which had reversed to pick up a passenger after trying to switch lanes.
“The whole tragedy happened in my sight,” he said. “The Kombi driver reversed to pick a passenger, and I waited for him to return. Just after picking the passenger, the kombi was hit from behind by the speeding UD truck and, in the process, injured a woman who was carrying day-old chicks. All but one of the chicks died while the woman was rushed to hospital.”
Karimazondo is adamant that urgent action is needed to prevent further loss of life at the turn-off. “What I can say is that the place is now a black spot and there is need for speed humps,” he said. “The traffic lights have not been working and will not make the drivers reduce speed, so speed humps are necessary. This is the third accident that has claimed lives at the same spot within a space of five months.”
The accident has reignited public anger over the lack of regulation in the commuter omnibus sector. Social media is abuzz with criticism of the traffic police and government for their apparent complacency towards kombi operators, many of whom lack the required documentation to operate legally.
A week ago, Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) spokesperson, Commissioner Paul Nyathi, revealed that only 3,000 out of the approximately 16,000 kombis operating in the capital, Harare, are officially registered. This leaves a staggering 13,000 vehicles unaccounted for, effectively driving under the radar.
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