Two people tragically lost their lives while 33 were injured in separate road accidents involving ZUPCO buses on Wednesday morning in Featherstone and Marondera.
The first incident occurred around 9:30 AM along the Harare-Masvingo Road, near the 105-kilometre peg in Featherstone.
A collision took place between an Elsberry Bus and a ZUPCO bus, resulting in the death of one person.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) confirmed that twenty-six others were injured in the crash. Police said:
<blockquote>
The ZRP confirms a fatal road traffic accident which occurred at the 105-kilometre peg along Harare-Masvingo Road in Featherstone on 06/11/24 at around 0930 hours. One person died on the spot while 26 others were injured when an Elsberry Bus collided with a ZUPCO bus.
As a result, the ZUPCO bus overturned and landed on its side. The body of the victim was taken to Chivhu General Hospital mortuary for post-mortem while the injured are admitted at the same hospital.
</blockquote>
In the second incident, the ZRP confirmed that a ZUPCO bus veered off the Harare-Mutare Road and overturned, resulting in one fatality and leaving seven others injured. Police said:
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One person died on the spot while seven others were injured when a ZUPCO bus veered off the road and overturned before landing on its roof at the 39-kilometre peg along Harare-Mutare Road on 06/11/24 at around 0745 hours.
The body of the victim was taken to Marondera Provincial Hospital mortuary for post-mortem while the injured are admitted at the same hospital.
</blockquote>
The accidents have raised concerns about road safety and the need for heightened vigilance on the nation’s highways.
The ZRP has in the past pleaded with motorists, particularly bus drivers, to exercise extra caution to prevent road carnage.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Pindula News

Two accidents with ZUPCO buses happened in Featherstone and Marondera, Zimbabwe. One person died in each accident, with many others hurt. The first accident involved an Elsberry Bus crashing into a ZUPCO bus, killing one and injuring 26. The second accident saw a ZUPCO bus overturn, causing one death and seven injuries. The police are reminding drivers to be careful on the roads to avoid more accidents. It's important for everyone to drive safely to prevent tragedies like these.

2 Dead, 33 Injured In Separate Accidents Involving ZUPCO Buses

The Zimbabwe United Passengers Company (ZUPCO) intends to sell off its unused fleet, which is currently sitting idle at depots across the country that have become scrap yards.
George Chigora, ZUPCO’s acting chief executive officer appointed in June, said the company aims to clear out the disused fleet from these depots. Said Chigora (via <a href="https://www.thestandard.co.zw/news/article/200032959/troubled-zupco-to-dispose-of-old-buses">The Standard</a>):
<blockquote>
It is true that some of our depots were named graveyards because of old bus shells that made it an eyesore.
There were very old buses including scrapes that were being kept for no apparent reason at all, and we need to get rid of these.
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Chigora said a disposal committee, which comprises workers from workshops, engineering, management, information technology and finance, has already been set up. He said:
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This was done according to the Act that I constituted and advised the Procurement Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (PRAZ) accordingly.
The committee will be going to every depot recording all such disused equipment, it could be oil, tyres, bus shells and all spare parts
We need to dispose of those useless equipment so that we can earn income to buy anything or service our buses that are on the road.
</blockquote>
ZUPCO once dominated many of the country’s routes but has since experienced a severe decline due to maintenance neglect, insufficient spare parts, and outdated equipment.
The parastatal is now a loss-making government asset under the Mutapa Investment Fund.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

ZUPCO, a bus company in Zimbabwe, wants to sell its old buses that are not being used and are just taking up space at its depots. The new CEO, George Chigora, says they need to get rid of these old buses, scraps, and spare parts to make money to fix the buses that are actually being used. ZUPCO used to be a big bus company in Zimbabwe, but now it's not doing well because they didn't take care of their buses properly. Now, they are trying to sell off the old buses as scrap to make some money.

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