HARARE – A dispute over a mere 50 cents may have inadvertently saved one man’s life, but tragically, it preceded the deaths of 16 others in a horrific kombi accident along Seke Road on Tuesday morning. The collision, involving a commuter omnibus and a haulage truck, has been declared a national disaster by President Mnangagwa.
National police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi stated that comprehensive investigations are underway to determine the cause of the accident. “Motorists are urged to be safety conscious while driving on the country’s roads,” he said. “Above all, vehicles should be regularly serviced and checked to address mechanical issues for road safety”.
Adding a disturbing layer to the tragedy, it has emerged that a disagreement over 50 cents, or its equivalent in ZiG, may have played a crucial role in the timing of the kombi’s journey. Just before the crash, Dhokwani, the driver of the Nissan Caravan, stopped near the waterworks, before the Hunyani River bridge, to drop off a passenger named Baba Tiara following a fare dispute.
Baba Tiara, who had boarded the kombi at Koala Meats bus station along Seke Road, offered a 20 ZiG note for his fare. However, the driver insisted on US$1, leading to a quarrel. When they failed to reach an agreement, Dhokwani ordered Baba Tiara off the kombi.
Speaking to H-Metro, Baba Tiara recounted the incident: “The kombi driver picked me up at Koala and I handed the conductor a 20 ZiG note. The driver said I was supposed to pay a dollar and we quarreled along the way. The driver ordered me to get off the kombi at a bus stop before the bridge and I complied. He was not speeding but the haulage truck driver encroached into his lane and I saw it all and it was so devastating. I would like to believe that if the driver had not stopped to drop me off he would have missed the haulage truck when it came into his lane. Ndichirikurwadziwa zvakanyanya uye nekuzvipa mhosva. If I had enough money, maybe the kombi driver could have saved all these souls”.
The tragic irony is that had the kombi not been delayed by this argument, it might have avoided the collision with the out-of-control haulage truck, which veered into its lane.
Another man narrowly escaped the same fate due to a similar fare dispute. According to media personality DJ Ollah 7, who arrived at the scene shortly after the crash, the man was forced to disembark from the kombi approximately 500 metres before the collision because the conductor refused his tattered US$1 note. It is a common occurrence on the Harare–Chitungwiza route for passengers and kombi crews to clash over damaged or insufficient fares, often resulting in passengers being ejected before reaching their intended destination.
In this instance, the conductor rejected the worn dollar bill, ordering the man off the vehicle. Moments later, the kombi was struck head-on by a haulage truck that had swerved into oncoming traffic after hitting two pedestrians. Both pedestrians died instantly. DJ Ollah 7 reported that the man, who had been travelling to Chitungwiza, walked towards the crash site after being dropped off and assisted in rescuing victims trapped in the wreckage.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) confirmed that the collision claimed the lives of 17 people, including the kombi driver. Only four individuals survived – three from the kombi and one from the truck. The force of the impact was so immense that the haulage truck overturned, landing on top of the kombi.
The bodies of the deceased have been taken to Chitungwiza Hospital mortuary, while the injured are receiving treatment at the same facility.
Harare Central Police Station rank marshal, Solomon Swikiro, known as Solo, spoke highly of the deceased kombi driver, Dhokwani. “I am the one who loaded his Caravan vehicle at the Charge Office rank in town,” Solo said. “He was one of the drivers who was not associated with violence or even this habit of taking alcohol. He was of a sober mind and was never counted among the speeding drivers. We will miss him and we will also miss our clients who perished along with him, may their souls rest in eternal peace. We lost one of our best drivers”.
Mayor of Chitungwiza, Councillor Rosaria Mangoma, has appealed to the government to declare the Seke Road accident a national disaster, arguing that such a move would facilitate the mobilisation of crucial resources for the affected families.
Following a visit to the accident site, accompanied by Acting Town Clerk Japson Nemuseso and other councillors, Mayor Mangoma described the scene at Hunyani Bridge as deeply traumatic. “I was met with an image too painful to describe as emergency services worked tirelessly to retrieve the deceased and assist the injured,” she said. “It was one of the most disturbing and traumatic scenes our community has witnessed in recent memory. What I witnessed was truly heart-breaking”.
The fatal collision occurred early Tuesday morning when a South Africa-registered 30-tonne haulage truck reportedly veered into oncoming traffic and collided with the commuter omnibus heading towards Chitungwiza.
Mayor Mangoma reiterated the need for government intervention. “I am formally appealing to the Government of Zimbabwe to declare this accident a national disaster,” she urged. “Doing so will unlock vital resources towards assisting the bereaved in mourning their loved ones. We appeal for national support”.
She also voiced her concern over the increasing number of fatal accidents occurring on Seke Road, highlighting that this was the fourth serious incident in recent times. “As we mourn the lives lost, I urge all motorists to exercise extreme caution on our roads,” she implored. “No journey is worth a life”.
Mayor Mangoma extended her condolences to the bereaved families. “On behalf of the Municipality of Chitungwiza, my family, and in my personal capacity, I extend my deepest condolences to the bereaved families,” she said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with them during this unimaginable time of grief. May the souls of the departed rest in eternal peace”.
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