At least six people lost their lives and several others sustained injuries when a Harare-bound Hungwe Coaches bus overturned near Fairmile Hotel in Gweru on Wednesday morning.
The bus, which was travelling from Bulawayo, reportedly failed to negotiate a roundabout and overturned, resulting in the tragic loss of lives. Eyewitnesses say the driver, who also sustained injuries, had complained about brake failure moments before the crash.
“I was sitting at the front close to the driver when the accident occurred. As we approached the roundabout, the driver said he was losing the brakes, and suddenly the bus gained speed before overturning. I managed to escape, and within five minutes, ambulances were already arriving,” recounted one survivor.
Emergency response teams swiftly arrived at the scene. Gweru City Council Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Felix Muguti, confirmed the retrieval of six bodies, including that of a minor.
“When we received a distress call around 7 am, we activated all our stakeholders, including ambulance services and the military. The injured were quickly transported to Gweru General Hospital. So far, six bodies have been recovered,” said Mr. Muguti.
Authorities have launched investigations into the cause of the accident, with brake failure suspected to be the main factor.
