A tragic accident occurred yesterday on Seke Road in Harare, resulting in the loss of three lives and injuries to 31 passengers. The accident involved two commuter omnibuses (kombis), one of which was driven by Sergeant James Makaranga, a 37-year-old police officer stationed at the Police Protection Unit.
Sgt Makaranga’s kombi, a Toyota Hiace, had 15 passengers on board when it collided head-on with a Nissan Caravan driven by Tashinga Chihava, 22, who had 18 passengers on board.
The collision occurred when Sgt Makaranga, in an attempt to overtake a Mazda Bongo Van on Seke Road, encroached onto the oncoming traffic lane and collided with Tashinga’s vehicle.
Tragically, two passengers, Wayne Chipuriro aged 42 and Pecking Feliati aged 40, lost their lives at the scene of the accident, and another passenger passed away after being admitted to Sally Mugabe Central Hospital.
Both kombi drivers were unable to produce their driver’s licenses when traffic police officers arrived at the scene. Consequently, Sgt Makaranga is being charged with Contravening Section 49 of the Criminal Law Codification and Reform Act chapter 9:23, specifically for “Culpable Homicide.”
The vehicles involved in the accident were taken to ZRP Hatfield Traffic for inspection by the Vehicle Examination Department. Inspector Luckmore Chakanza, the Harare provincial police spokesperson, has confirmed the details of the accident.
“Police confirms death of three people and injury of 31 passengers in a road traffic accident along Seke Road,”said Insp Chakanza.
“Among the injured, 17 were rushed to Chitungwiza Hospital, 10 at Sally Mugabe Central Hospital and 8 at Parirenyatwa Hospital.
“Investigations are continuing,” said Insp Chakanza. In his statement ahead of the Heroes and Defence Forces Holiday, the Commissioner General of Police implored motorists to be exemplary in their driving conduct after the recent rehabilitation and construction of major roads in Harare and other parts of the country.
