By Zimsentinel Staff writer
Nine people died on the spot and two others hospitalised after a Green fuel haulage truck collided head-on with a commuter omnibus along Tanganda – Chiredzi highway near Chimambo Business Centre in Chipinge.
The accident occurred after a Green fuel truck driver overtook near a curve and rammed into oncoming White Horse commuter omnibus headed to Checheche Growth point.
A resident who visited the accident scene, Effort Manono confirmed the accident saying, “the Green fuel truck overtook near a curve and with the poor condition of the road as it filled with dust the truck run into an oncoming traffic resulting in a head-on collision that claimed nine lives on the spot and some taken to St Peters hospital”.
“This highway has been a concern to us as residents. Since 2009, the condition of the road has continued to deteriorate. In 2017, 60km of the road was re-surfaced and left dusty. We are not sure when the tar will be filled. The road is in a bad state as these green fuel haulage trucks are further worsening the state of the road. It’s hard for small cars to use the road now” he added.
The Chipinge South Legislator Enock Porusingazi said, “We have had accidents almost on a daily basis in this road and vehicle breakdowns. It is now a notorious road. The tender process was done for the rehabilitation of this road and the tender was awarded to Bitumen World. The process is slow from Procurement Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (PRAZ) for the commencement of work at Tanganda-Chiredzi highway”.
The Tanganda-Chiredzi highway issue has been on top of the agenda in Checheche area in Chipinge as residents for a long time have been requesting the government to intervene and facilitate the rehabilitation of the road network.
Villagers in Checheche and surrounding areas have agreed that there will be no Greenfuel truck on the road until further notice. This has been necessitated by the recent accident at Chimambo Business Centre.
