Two families have been thrown into a state of mourning as 14 members of both failies die in a fatal car accident along the Harare-Nyamapanda highway in Mutoko, Zimbabwe.
The tragedy occurred on Sunday, December 27 near the Mutoko Business Centre when an Isuzu KB double cab truck belonging to the Rutsito family collided head-on with a BMW in which the Chitimbe family had boarded.
Eight of the deceased were from the Rutsito family while 6 were from the Chitimbe family. The other 4 are yet to be identified.
According to reports, 14 died on the spot while 4 were rushed to the hospital.
Confirming the incident, Mr Munyaradzi Kabasa, from the Rutsito family stating that Eight family members were lost said :
“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 — Malcom, 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.”
Also speaking from the Chitimbe family, Mr Richard Chitimbe, a member of the family said:
“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 (Monday). We are appealing for any kind of assistance from well wishers to help in conducting burial of our family members,”
The six members of the Chitimbe family who died include: Abigail Chitimbe (30), Nyasha Chikuza (7), Tawananyasha, Major Mushumbi (7), Sandra Kanobata (19) and Ngaakudzwe Nkolomah (1).
Meanwhile, the director in the Department of Civil Protection, Mr Nathan Nkomo said the Government will assist in the burial of the deceased.
“For those with funeral policies, 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, Government will assist by meeting all the medical bills.”
