A man from Dema in Seke lost his wife and three children in a fatal road accident near Chivhu in Chikomba District, Mashonaland East Province, on Friday night.
Emmanuel Bonda’s family was among 27 people who died in a head-on collision involving the kombi they were travelling in and a South African-registered haulage truck.
The accident occurred at the 132-kilometre peg near Chivhu.
The passengers were members of the Paul Mwazha Church who were travelling from Dema to Ndarikure in Mvuma for a church conference.
Bonda said he became worried after his wife failed to answer his calls.
“She packed her clothes and those of the kids around 12, and by 2 pm they were already in the kombi. One thing that she was complaining about was that the kombi was overloaded,” said Bonda.
“She even asked me if I knew of anyone who had a vehicle going to the same conference so that she and the kids could get a lift, but I knew no one. I wished them a safe journey.
“When I finished work, I decided to check on them, but my wife’s mobile phone went unanswered. I kept on trying, but there was no response. I just told myself that maybe she had concealed it in her purse.
“When I got home, I received calls from other church members who were already at the conference informing me of the accident. I informed my workmates, and they assisted me to get to the accident scene.”
When he got to the scene, Bonda said he was told that those involved had been injured and rushed to hospital.
“We were told that some people were injured and were rushed to hospital, and we could only see them the next day,” he said.
“Today we went to the hospital, and that is when I was told that a lot of people had died.
“The first person I identified was my son, then others. I am so hurt. Losing my entire family, just like that, is unbearable.”
Tawanda Mushonga, who lost his wife, said his last conversation with her was at around 2 pm. He said he called again at around 7 pm to check if they had arrived safely.
“Her phone was just ringing. It went unanswered. I called several times and still got the same result,” said Mushonga.
“I was at work by then and decided to recharge my phone. But then a workmate came to me saying a lot of people were trying to reach me on my mobile phone and when I checked it, I had a lot of missed calls.
“On returning all those missed calls, that’s when one of the callers informed me of the accident.
“I am a driver by profession, and I have seen a lot of accidents, but what I saw on that night is something that I do not want to witness again. People died.
“The driver of that kombi was trapped on the front seat, and the kombi was on fire. It was horrible.
“I saw my wife, lifeless. She was there, injured, and my heart broke. It is painful to lose someone you love dearly.
“This accident has created a void in my life, in my family, and I just do not know how my children will take it.
“What will I become without the mother of my children? Yes, this is the will of God, but it is painful. Just knowing that I will never see her again is unbearable.”
President Emmerson Mnangagwa has declared the accident a national disaster, meaning all bereaved families will receive assistance to give their loved ones a decent burial.
The government is also assisting with treatment for the six people injured in the accident.
More: The Herald
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