GWERU – At least 10 people are feared dead after a bus collided head-on with a minibus near a tollgate just outside Gweru on Wednesday night.
The bus caught fire after the collision which occurred at around 7PM, but most of the passengers managed to escape.
The minibus, known locally as a kombi, was coming from Gweru and heading towards Kwekwe. The driver was attempting an overtake when it collided head-on with the Bed Green bus carrying cross-border traders from Kadoma who were on their way to Musina in neighbouring South Africa.
Midlands police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Ethel Mukwende was unreachable last night.
Gweru City Council’s director of health services Sam Sekenhamo, who arrived at the horrific scene shortly after the accident, said he had counted 10 bodies.
“The accident has left 10 dead on the spot, we don’t know the condition of those taken to hospital,” he said.
A passenger who was on the bus said at the scene that the bus driver – although in his lane at the time of impact – was speeding, and passengers had earlier pleaded with him to reduce his speed.
“He was racing another bus also going in the same direction, and it was very uncomfortable,” the passenger said.
The bus driver was trapped after impact and had to be rescued by the Fire Brigade.
The minibus driver is believed to be among the dead at the scene.
