Minister visits Masvingo highway accident scene, gives victim $50

By Mutsa Makuvaza

TRANSPORT Minister Felix Mhona on Saturday morning visited the site of the horror crash that killed 22 people along the Masvingo-Zvishavane highway on Monday afternoon, and met with some relatives of the deceased as well as witnesses of the accident.

The accident occurred when a Toyota Granvia and a Toyota Wish collided head-on after the Granvia burst a tyre and encroached into the opposite lane. Apart from overloading and over speeding, the police have been roundly blamed for corruptly letting pirate taxis through roadblocks.

Accompanied ZRP spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi, Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe officials, and Vehicle Inspectorate Department officials, Mhona heard eyewitness accounts from some of the first responders to the crash.

One of the people who died in the crash is Samuel Dube (56) of Mberengwa, and Mhona met Dube’s relatives who he gave US$50. This is on top of $10 000 cash that will come from the Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe and other assistance such as food and a coffin from Government.

Mhona, who is the MP for Chikomba Central, also met traditional leaders in Gondo village under Chief Madamombe. He later on visited Zvishavane District Hospital where three people who were rescued alive from the crash wreckage were admitted.