53 escape death in Hwange accident

By Fairness Moyana

At least 53 people escaped death by a whisker on Friday when a Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) staff bus they were travelling in veered off the road and overturned near Hwange Power Station in Hwange injuring 41 people.

The injured, mostly ZPC workers, and some of their family members were rushed to Hwange Colliery and St Patricks hospitals. Police could not immediately comment on the matter.

However, according to witnesses, the driver of the bus which was coming from the company’s residential area lost control after a support beam underneath broke off.

The bus reportedly first hit a pothole before swerving off the road, ploughing into trees and overturned, trapping passengers.

“The bus was coming from Ingagula carrying dependents mostly women who were going to Number One. Just as it got close to the power station it hit a pothole and the driver lost control resulting in the bus veering off the road where it uprooted trees and fell on its side,” said the witness.

When Sunday News visited the scene, ZPC fire brigade department was combing through the wreckage of the bus which was still lying on its side.

An official at Hwange Colliery Hospital who requested anonymity said most of the passengers suffered injuries that included bruises, twisted necks and broken hands while there was a woman who was in a critical condition and was due to undergo surgery. Sunday News