Tinaani Nyabereka
Two people lost their lives and a third sustained injuries in a head-on collision that occurred at the 195-kilometer peg along the Harare-Masvingo Road on Sunday, November 19, 2023, at 6:30 AM.
Midlands Provincial Police Spokesperson, Inspector Emmanuel Mahoko, confirmed the incident and urged motorists to exercise caution on the roads.
“We continue to urge drivers of motor vehicles to exercise maximum caution and familiarize themselves with the road conditions they will be traveling on,” Mahoko said.
The vehicles involved were a silver Scania truck and a white Toyota Allex private car.
Godfrey Bwende (44) of Mashawasha, Mbare, who was driving the Allex, died upon admission at Mvuma District Hospital, while a passenger, Tinashe Kabaya of Hopely, Zone 6, Harare, died on the spot.
The third person involved in the accident, Lavender Chiona, a 34-year-old female also from Mbare, escaped with minor injuries and was treated and discharged from the same hospital. The truck driver escaped unharmed.
Initial investigations revealed that the heavy truck was traveling towards Masvingo with no passengers, while the private vehicle was going in the opposite direction, carrying two passengers.
When the vehicles approached the 195-kilometer mark, near the Gweru turn-off, there was a misreading of the road pattern after a junction, resulting in the collision.
The police attended the scene, and the deceased bodies were transported to Mvuma District Hospital.
