The Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development, Felix Mhona, has expressed his sadness over the seven fatalities in a traffic accident that happened Thursday morning near the Kuwadzana 7 turn-off in Harare.
When a commuter omnibus (kombi) driver refused to give way at traffic lights and crashed with a haulage vehicle, seven people were killed and four others were injured.
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The driver and his conductor are among those who survived and currently admitted at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals. Mhona said:
On behalf of the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development and on my own behalf, I convey our heartfelt condolences to all the bereaved families. We mourn the demise of young men and women who perished in this crash.
Our thoughts are with all the families of the people who were killed in the crash and our prayers are with those injured as they continue to receive treatment and care. We wish them speedy recuperation.
Mhona said the accident is yet another call to all transport operators, motorists, and members of the public to adhere to road traffic rules and exercise caution on the road. He added:
Whilst the traffic lights at the intersection were working, it is concerning to note that the driver of the commuter omnibus proceeded when he was supposed to stop.
This was reckless and thus a blatant violation of our road traffic rules and regulations. Consequently, the driver is being charged with culpable homicide.
I wish to remind and warn all transport operators, motorists, and members of the public that the Ministry will take stern measures to preserve the safety and security of the commuting public.
Culpable homicide refers to the unlawful killing of another person without intent to kill but with a degree of negligence or recklessness. It is categorised as a less severe charge than murder, as it may involve circumstances where the perpetrator did not have the explicit intention to cause death.
