34 die as bus collides with train

By Lance Guma
06 March 2007

There are reports that 34 people died in Dzivarasekwa when a commuter omnibus collided with a cargo train at a rail crossing. 28 passengers died on the spot including the driver, while a further 6 died from their injuries in hospital. Those killed at the site include 16 men, 11 women and 1 child. The bus was travelling to Mbare Musika when the driver apparently failed to stop at the level crossing. Witnesses told state radio the bus driver must have failed to hear the train when it sounded its siren. Most of the women killed were on their way to Mbare’s busy fruit and vegetable market.

The police say they have set up a command post at Parirenyatwa Hospital to help friends and relatives to identify the deceased. Some reports suggest there were scenes of near riots as Dzivarasekwa residents blamed the accident on malfunctioning rail traffic signals. A Zimonline report says police were at pains to explain to shouting residents that the driver had allegedly failed to stop at the rail crossing instead. The opposition issued a statement saying it would be wrong to apportion blame on the driver of the bus alone without looking at the state of the country’s rail signalling system.

Shortages of foreign currency have created serious defects on the countrys’ rail networks and rail accidents, which used to be unheard of in the past, are becoming a regular feature in the country. The government announced this year that 40 percent of public transport drivers who undertook mandatory re-testing of their road skills failed the tests. This coupled with forex shortages that have affected the purchase of spare parts have created a recipe for the disasters that are unfolding.