Regina Coeli Bus Disaster (August 1991)
| Regina Coeli Bus Disaster (3 August 1991) | |
|---|---|
 Some of the Survivors of the Crash pictured in 2014 | |
| Details | |
| Date | 3 August 1991 |
| Time | Evening |
| Country | Zimbabwe |
| Bus operator | B&C Coaches |
| Bus owner | B&C Bus Company |
| Cause | speeding |
| Statistics | |
| Deaths | 89 |
| Damage | bus damaged |
Date: 3 August 1991
Location: Nyanga Manicaland
Involved: Passenger Bus
Deaths: 89
Injuries: injured
Cause of Accident: Overspeeding
The Regina Coeli Bus Disaster of August 1991 is Zimbabwe's worst road accident. It resulted in the death of 83 students and 5 members of staff from Regina Coeli Mission in the mountainous town of Nyanga in the Manicaland province. The B & C disaster shocked the world as innocent students lost their lives at the hands of a driver who was reported to be under the influence of alcohol. The accident happened in Nyanga, 289 km southeast of Zimbabwe's capital, Harare.
One of the accident survivors Ignatius Bukuta narrated the story to the Manica post in 2014. He said "When we left St Killian’s Mission, gaiety and excitement were all over the bus. Although our soccer team had lost to Marist Nyanga in the finals, we were excited that we had given our much-fancied opponents a good run for their money.
“However, something continued bothering me, but I do not know where this feeling was coming from. The hired B & C bus was literary flying.
“The driver was not the one who had taken us to St Killian’s. When we stopped at Brondesbury Service Station to refuel, a motorist stopped to caution the driver, but he would have none of it.
“It seems the caution provoked the devil in him as he increased speed from the service station.
“We continuously pleaded with him to stop for recess, but he turned a deaf ear. He only stopped at Nyanga View when our raucous calls for recess finally got into his ears.
“That was the last time to talk to him as everyone was praying for a safe arrival at our destination" said Mr Bukuta. He said what incensed them most was that the driver said he had vast experience of navigating terrains like the Nyanga since he once drove through the Botereka Range."[1] The accident undoubtedly left emotional scars on the few survivors. Moreso, the accident scene also developed into a black spot with a number of accidents having happened claiming more lives.
References
- ↑ C. Mushanawani, Regina Coeli survivors speak two decades on,Nehanda Radio, published:22 Feb 2014,retrieved:23 Jan 2015"
