In a very sad turn of events, two families lost 14 family members, after 18 people died in a horror crash along the Harare-Nyamapanda highway on Sunday.
The horrific accident occurred when an Isuzu KB double cab truck collided head-on with a BMW near the Mutoko Business Centre. 14 people died on the spot while 4 others died from their injuries at Mutoko Hospital.
PaMhepo has learned that 8 of the deceased were from the Rutsito family while 6 of the deceased were from the Chitimbe family. The other 4 were yet to be identified at the time of publishing. Both the Rutsito and the Chitimbe families are from Mutoko.
The Herald reports that when the accident occurred, the Rutsito family was travelling in the Isuzu KB double cab truck. The Chitimbe family was in a BMW which they had boarded when looking for lifts.
Munyaradzi Kabasa, a member of the Rutsito family, told the Herald how 8 family members had died in the crash.
“We are pained by this unexpected death which took away eight people from our family. Masimba Rutsito was my brother and was aged 39. He and his family had come home to visit from Harare. On their way back, that is when they met their fate.
“He was driving the Isuzu double cab and in the car were 12 people who included his wife Audrey Mavhunga, his children — Malcolm, Naishe and Makomborero. Also in the car was our uncle, Simbarashe Mapuranga and his wife Grace Madzinga together with their child, Samuel. All these perished in the accident.
“Those who were injured are Kupakwashe and Maxwell Rutsito, Patricia Mapuranga and one Gamuchirai who was a maid to Masimba’s family.
“They have been transferred to Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals and they are critical. They need our prayers. We are in great pain.”
 |
| More Details On Mutoko Horror Crash Which Killed 14 People From 2 Families |
Richard Chitimbe, the family spokesperson for the Chitimbe family also narrated how the family was devastated at losing 6 members.
“My sister Abigail and her two children Nyasha and Tawananyasha had visited a relative in Tabudirira, a few kilometres from here. She took with her, three of my elder sister’s children Major, Sandra and Ngaakudzwe.
“On their way back, they were given a lift in a BMW vehicle which had a head-on collision with an Isuzu vehicle. They all died. The family is in pain. We were looking forward to seeing them here yesterday, only to receive the bad news.
“We will bury them tomorrow (today). We are appealing for any kind of assistance from well-wishers to help in conducting the burial of our family members,”
The government has since announced that it will pay the funeral expenses for all the 18 deceased people. The director in the Department of Civil Protection Nathan Nkomo told the Herald,
“For those with funeral policies, the Government will assist with $2 500 per head and for those without funeral policies, Government will avail coffins and transport.
“To those who are currently hospitalised, the Government will assist by meeting all the medical bills.”
FATAL ROAD TRAFFIC ACCIDENT AT 130KM PEG ALONG HARARE- NYAMAPANDA ROAD.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police confirms the death of 17 people in a fatal road traffic accident which occurred at the 130 KM peg along Harare-Nyamapanda Road on 27 December 2020 at around 1740 hours.
A white Isuzu KB Double Cab which was travelling towards Murewa had a head-on collision with a white BMW vehicle going in the opposite direction. 14 people died on the spot while three died on admission at Mutoko Hospital. The driver of the Isuzu vehicle died on the spot. The bodies of the victims were taken to Mutoko District Hospital for Post Mortem and those injured were also admitted at the same institution.
Meanwhile, eight of the victims have been identified by their next of kin as follows:
1. Sandra Kanobata, a female adult, aged 19, of number 14 Rufaro Street, Chinzanga Mutoko.
2. Abigal Chitimba, a female adult, aged 30, of number 14 Rufaro Street Chinzanga Mutoko.
3. Major Mushumbi a male juvenile, aged seven, of number 14 Rufaro Street, Chinzanga Mutoko.
4. Ngaakudzwe Nkolomah, a female juvenile, aged one year of number 14 Rufaro Street, Chinzanga Mutoko.
5. Nyasha Chikuza, a female juvenile, aged seven, of ChitsakaVillage, Chief Mutoko, Mutoko.
6. Masimba Rutsito, a male adult, aged 39, of Chingamuka Village, Chief Mutoko, Mutoko. (Isuzu Driver) 7. Kupakwashe Rutsito, a male juvenile, aged 13 of Chingamuka Village, Chief Mutoko, Mutoko.
8. Samuel Mapuranga, a male juvenile, aged two years of Estalia Village D, Kadoma.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police urges drivers to be considerate on the roads, avoid reckless driving conduct especially trying to overtake in situations which are not safe. Motorists should not exceed the loading capacity of vehicles when carrying goods and passengers. Let us all remember that road safety is a collective responsibility.
(Nyathi. P) Assistant Commissioner
Senior Staff Officer (Press. Public and Int. Relations)
To the Commissioner-General of Police
Police General Headquarters
