… ‘kombi businessman lacks compassion’
Brighton Chiseva
The families of
victims of a fatal omnibus accident which occurred recently at Morgenster are
bitter that the owner of the vehicle showed no compassion to them in their time
of grief, and has made no effort to commiserate with them, let alone provide
some form of compensation.
victims of a fatal omnibus accident which occurred recently at Morgenster are
bitter that the owner of the vehicle showed no compassion to them in their time
of grief, and has made no effort to commiserate with them, let alone provide
some form of compensation.
The omnibus crushed
after failing to negotiate a curve just after Morgenster Mission Hospital on
Its way from Renco Mine to Masvingo city.
after failing to negotiate a curve just after Morgenster Mission Hospital on
Its way from Renco Mine to Masvingo city.
It overturned and
killed three people on the spot while the other two were pronounced dead upon
admission at Morgenster Hospital. A total of 12 other passengers were injured.
killed three people on the spot while the other two were pronounced dead upon
admission at Morgenster Hospital. A total of 12 other passengers were injured.
Relatives of Esther
Mhere, who is one of the deceased victims, said the owner of the vehicle,
Samuel Mushayi, did not bother to assist them meet burial expenses.
Mhere, who is one of the deceased victims, said the owner of the vehicle,
Samuel Mushayi, did not bother to assist them meet burial expenses.
The deceased’s
son, Godfree Mhere said they were shocked by the kombi owner’s behaviour who he
accused of taking their patience for granted.
son, Godfree Mhere said they were shocked by the kombi owner’s behaviour who he
accused of taking their patience for granted.
“He called us and
said we had to meet at Pick n Pay Masvingo but we waited for him for several
hours as he kept on saying he was coming. We then got tired of waiting and went
to Moonlight funeral parlour where he against promised to meet us but failed to
show up,” said Mhere.
said we had to meet at Pick n Pay Masvingo but we waited for him for several
hours as he kept on saying he was coming. We then got tired of waiting and went
to Moonlight funeral parlour where he against promised to meet us but failed to
show up,” said Mhere.
The deceased’s brother
Jestinos Mahachi said they were still pained that two weeks had gone by without
hearing anything from Mushayi.
Jestinos Mahachi said they were still pained that two weeks had gone by without
hearing anything from Mushayi.
He said they
will were not letting him get away with it since the whole family was failing
to come to terms with what happened.
will were not letting him get away with it since the whole family was failing
to come to terms with what happened.
“We know
accidents do happen and they are not planned but the owner should show a little
respect to the affected people. He even promised to meet us and we delayed the
taking our relative’s body from the parlour only to be disappointed.
accidents do happen and they are not planned but the owner should show a little
respect to the affected people. He even promised to meet us and we delayed the
taking our relative’s body from the parlour only to be disappointed.
“If he was that
busy, he could have sent a messanger just to show that he was sorry. We even
told him that we were not after his money,” said Mahachi.
busy, he could have sent a messanger just to show that he was sorry. We even
told him that we were not after his money,” said Mahachi.
When contacted
for comment, Mushayi said some of the family had been hostile to him and had
refused to accept his help.
for comment, Mushayi said some of the family had been hostile to him and had
refused to accept his help.
“Since they had
a funeral policy I could not buy a coffin for them. I then asked what I could
do to help but they asked me to wait for someone to decide and when they made
up their minds, I had gone to Zaka for burial of other two victims from the
same family.
a funeral policy I could not buy a coffin for them. I then asked what I could
do to help but they asked me to wait for someone to decide and when they made
up their minds, I had gone to Zaka for burial of other two victims from the
same family.
“I then offered some
money and requested for their EcoCash number as I did to the other families but
they refused. They were so bitter and the police had warned that I had to be
careful to avoid another tragedy,” said Mushayi.
money and requested for their EcoCash number as I did to the other families but
they refused. They were so bitter and the police had warned that I had to be
careful to avoid another tragedy,” said Mushayi.
Local Member of Parliament
Claudious Maronge, however, chipped by providing transport and some food to the
grieving family.
Claudious Maronge, however, chipped by providing transport and some food to the
grieving family.
