Graduate, daughter die in car crash

WHAT ought to have been an historic day for the Mamvura family of Nyazura with the imminent graduation of 35-year-old Tinashe Mamvura turned out to be a black Friday – following his untimely death and that of her daughter in a tragic accident in Headlands.

The accident occurred at the 130km peg (Halfway House) along the Mutare-Harare Highway last Friday morning.

The Mamvuras were travelling to Harare to witness the graduation of Mr Tinashe Mamvura at the City Sports Stadium when tragedy struck. He had completed his Masters’ degree with the Zimbabwe Open University and was due to be capped by President Mugabe later that afternoon.

Manicaland provincial police spokesperson, Mr Enock Chishiri, confirmed the accident which also killed Wayne Mamvura (10), of Nyazura, Olivia Tumbera (41), of Vengere, Rusape and Lee Chinonzura (29), of Dangamvura, Mutare.

The three died on the spot.

Wayne was Mamvura’s first born child and was doing Grade Three at John Cowie Primary School in Rusape.

The parents had approached the school authority requesting for his absence from school last Thursday to enable them to buy him new clothes to don during his father’s graduation. He was buried on Sunday in Nzvimbe, Makoni South.

The school authorities, teachers and classmates attended the burial.

Tumbere was a close relative of the Mamvuras. She was also buried on Sunday at Silverbow Cemetery in Rusape.

Mamvura’s wife, Alice Gandi, who was also involved in the accident escaped with moderate injuries. The owner of the car, Dorothy Mapwanya, sustained minor injuries.

They were travelling in a Mitsubishi Chariot which burst its left rear tyre and the driver, Aaron Tawana (27), lost control.

The car, with seven occupants, swerved and encroached into the lane of an on-coming haulage truck, resulting in it being side-wiped. The car rolled twice on impact with the truck, and threw out the three on the tarred road, killing them instantly. The car then landed on its left side.