Three Chitungwiza based MDC-T officials died on Saturday after the vehicle they were travelling in was involved in an accident along the Gokwe-KweKwe highway in the Midlands province.The trio was travelling back to Chitungwiza from Gokwe when tragedy struck around 3pm. They were part of around 5000 people who gathered in Gokwe for the MDC 11th anniversary celebrations.
The MDC named the three party cadres as Alex Magunda, the district chairperson for St Marys, Loveless Sango, the vice chairperson of the district and Innocent Muzuva, the secretary for ward 1.
According to eyewitness accounts the vehicle in which the three officials were travelling in was hit by a vehicle driven by Evelyn Masaiti, the MDC-T MP for Dzivarasekwa and former Woman Affairs deputy minister.
It is reported the MP was attempting to overtake, but swerved back to the left lane after seeing an oncoming vehicle ahead, resulting in her hitting the vehicle she was trying to overtake.
On impact both vehicles lost control and veered off the road. Masaitis vehicle crashed into a tree while the one with officials from Chitungwiza rolled several times. Most of the passengers from this pick up truck were thrown out of the vehicle and in the process sustained serious injuries, one MDC official told us.
It is believed there were as many as 10 people in truck that overturned. Most of those who sustained injuries were seated in back of the vehicle.
Masaiti was also injured in the accident. A source told us she may face charges of culpable homicide for not taking due caution on a highway. She was due to fly out of Harare on Sunday morning for Berlin, Germany, on party business.
Magunda, Sango and Muzuva were rushed to Zhombe hospital where they were pronounced dead on arrival. Others were ferried to KweKwe hospital and had to be airlifted to Harare on Sunday.
In his condolence message MDC President Morgan Tsvangirai said he was grievously pained by the death of the officials on their way from the parts 11th anniversary celebrations.
Tsvangirai arrived at the scene of the accident 20 minutes after it had happened and managed to mobilise help for those injured. He also made a follow-up to KweKwe hospital where he gave orders that those injured should be airlifted to Harare for specialist treatment.
It is painful that barely an hour after the carnival atmosphere in Gokwe, the party was once again plunged into mourning and deep sorrow. I was deeply pained when I saw the lifeless bodies near the Empress Mine turn-off barely 20 minutes after the tragic accident, Tsvangira said.
Post published in: World News