Masvingo-Beitbridge Bus Disaster (April 2012)
| Masvingo-Beitbridge Megalink Bus Accident (16 April 2012) | |
|---|---|
 Wreckage of the Megalink Bus | |
| Details | |
| Date | 16 April 2012 |
| Time | morning |
| Location | Ngundu, 92km peg Masvingo Beitbridge Highway |
| Country | Zimbabwe |
| Bus operator | MegaLink Coaches |
| Bus owner | MegaLink Coaches |
| Cause | veered off the road and crashed into a tree |
| Statistics | |
| Deaths | 21 |
| Injuries | 28 |
| Damage | both busses |
Accident Summary
Date: 16 April 2012
Location: Ngundu, 92 km Masvingo-Beitbridge Highway
Involved: Passenger Bus and Haulage Truck
Deaths: 21
Injuries: 28 injured
Cause of Accident: Overspeeding
Accident Details
The accident occurred near Ngundu Growth Point. Twenty people died on the spot, while one person was pronounced dead on admission to Masvingo General Hospital.[1] The Air Force of Zimbabwe airlifted nine critically injured survivors with severe head injuries and fractures to Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals in Harare.[1] The driver of the bus, which belongs to MegaLink Bus Company, reportedly failed to negotiate a curve at the 92 km peg along the dangerous Masvingo- Beitbridge Highway at around 2am in the morning.[1] The coach was on its way to Beitbridge from Harare when tragedy struck. At the time of the crash, the bus had 59 adult passengers and seven children on board. Some of the injured received treatment at Neshuro and Chivi district hospitals.[1] The then Masvingo Provincial Governor and Resident Minister Titus Maluleke visited the accident scene and described the day as sad for the entire nation. Ignatius Chombo the minister of Local Government announced that the accident was declared a national disaster. The families who lost their loved ones in the accident were promised US$200 which was going to be channelled towards the processing of decent burials.[2]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 G. Maponga, Update 2: Horror crash claims 21,Nehanda Radio, published:17 Apr 2012,retrieved:22 Jan 2015"
- ↑ , 8 of the 21 Masvingo bus accident victims positively identified,Harare24, published:18 Apr 2012,retrieved:22 Jan 2015"
