Chitungwiza bachelor survives viral horror accident in the right nick of time
HARARE – 26-year old Blessing Tinashe Chingosho of Chitungwiza narrowly escaped death after instinctively jumping out of his Toyota Harrier when a flame suddenly burst out from his dashboard. Had he delayed a second longer he would likely be an ancestor by now.
Even Zimbabwe’s greatest thriller novel writers could not have scripted a narrower escape. Edward Kaugare wrote the novel “Kukurukura hunge wapotswa.” (The narrow escape).
Based in Highfield Harare the fast-paced story explored some suspenseful twists and turns. Aaron Chiundura Moyo often scripted TV dramas that saw him turn into an arch-villain on ZBC TV in the 1980s.
But even these great writers could not have imagined or scripted what happened to Chingosho. We caught up with the eligible bachelor on Saturday about 3 days after his un-forgettable episode.
The first impression Chingosho made as he wept uncontrollably over the loss of his beloved burning Toyota Harrier was in sharp contrast to the calm and collected figure who narrated to us, in forensic detail, his sad ordeal that read like something out of a fiction novel.
Probably for the millionth time now he patiently recounted: “The car just caught fire on the road as I saw a flame coming from the dashboard.”
He was coming from town around 10am approaching Waverly Blankets area in St Martins on his way to Chitungwiza at a steady 80km/hr as he approached Metro Peech shopping mall.
“Just after Coca Cola I went past Total. An awful flame just burst out. I decided not to apply my brakes. At 80km/hr I jumped out of the car quickly. The door had hardly closed. Before I even landed a sound like bullets suddenly broke out.
“If I delayed by seconds I would be a goner. The car kept going and crossed the robot. It went over 2 pavements and broke the momentum somehow. I didn’t break any bones.
“I felt some pain but nothing showed up in the x-rays except a few bruises. I thank God for my survival. I can’t believe this bad dream happened.”
“I want to thank the elderly man who took me to hospital from the scene. He brought me new push sandals to replace my shoes that were left in the car.”
Chingosho lost his wallet, his driver’s license disk and other particulars and his mobile phone and its treasure trove of photos and videos in the accident. “I only got out of the car with my life and the clothes on my back. I didn’t manage to salvage anything.”
Chingosho’s life is so full of twists and turns it could make an episode of a thriller TV series with him as the main actor.
Sadistic humour meant his tears for his beloved car and the whole life-threatening nature of it attracted some viral attention with the spectacle of a crying man. But the world doesn’t know what it wants.
Considering the spate of male suicides fast becoming a small plague the days of forced “manning up” may have to end. Men have long been begged to show more emotion and ‘talk to someone.”
Whether the listening ears would have time to stop recording viral videos and empathise is another matter altogether.
Ironically, well-wishers with soft hearts were touched by the videos. Efforts to raise enough money to replace the burnt car at a suggested a dollar per person had by Saturday night reached US$955.00.
Chingosho explained how he initially bought the car: “I got it (the car) through the financial resources I had mobilised. I was using it to run around on my small business activities.”
“It affected me emotionally as I saw the car burning to ashes.”
“I feel happy to be remembered by people you don’t even know. They have been consoling me. I want to thank people contributing to me.”
Journalist Rumbidzai Nyazungu decided to lead a recovery effort.
She wrote on Facebook: “Mukomana andifonera ndataura naye achishandisa phone yamai vake (I spoke to him on his mother’s phone)… So vaya vavachiti why arikuchema I am sure akabatwa nekutya zvese neshock. (For those asking why he was crying so much it seems it was the shock)
She provided these details for those wanting to contribute a dollar or more each. Collective efforts had reached US$955 by Saturday.
TINASHE BLESSING CHINGOSHO
ID 25-130114Q47
PHONE NUMBER-0771540278 (both Ecocash and Innbucks).
Nyazungu said: “A dollar will make a difference so far tina mukoma vari ready to send 500 usd Zimbabwe thank you so much. Share this post guys dollar dollar car family tinotenga mota yemukomana.”
I asked a psychologist who declined to be named how he would explain the tears from a man and the effect on others.
He said: “To a large extent I think the tears helped. We are mostly socialized in a way which discourages us as men not to show emotions. For example u hear women saying to a little boy after a mishap, “murume haacheme”(Men don’t cry).
“Or sometimes during funerals it’s the women who wail. Social stigma: Men are often expected to be strong and stoic, and showing emotions is seen as a sign of weakness.
“Vulnerability: The protagonist’s emotional display challenges traditional gender norms, making him vulnerable but also relatable. Empathy and connection: His openness inspires empathy and connection with others, highlighting the importance of emotional expression.”
The psychologist mentioned the line between attachment to a material possession and sentimental value (e.g. memories made with the car). He said cars can symbolize status, freedom, or independence, making the loss more profound. Cars are also an emotional and even business investment. The car represents a sense of security, comfort, or accomplishment, making its loss a personal blow.
I couldn’t push the shrink any further without attracting a bill.
Whether or not Chingosho’s narrow escape becomes a thriller at least he can relate to his grandchildren the happy ending with a little help from his friends.
At 26 he is still young enough to attract a (romantic) flame of a different kind. If only he can get by with a little help from his newfound friends.
