Four
members of a Seventh-day Adventist Church music group died after a vehicle they
were travelling on, veered off the road and overturned in Mawabeni along Gwanda
road on Saturday.
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| Zimbabwean Adventist youth rally. The victims were youths |
The
17-member Gospel Symphony was heading to Gwanda in the Southern African country
Zimbabwe for worship on Saturday morning when the accident occurred leaving 13
members injured.
Zimbabwe-four-Seventh-day-Adventists-die-accident-way-church-Sabbath
Three of the four died on the spot
while one of them later died at Esigodini Hospital. The injured group members
are receiving medical attention at Mpilo Central Hospital and United Bulawayo
Hospitals.
Police national spokesperson Assistant
Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the incident yesterday urging drivers to be
cautious on the road to avoid unnecessary loss of life.
“I can confirm that three people died on the spot while 13 others were injured when a vehicle lost control and veered off the road and overturned around 9AM on Saturday. Onboard were members of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church on their way to Gwanda for a church programme,” said Asst Comm Nyathi.
“Those who died on the spot include
Corleenah Ncube (36), Sithembelenkosini Mutemachani (52) and Egnes
Majazi (38) all from Nkulumane suburb in Bulawayo.”
He said police are conducting
investigations and are yet to get details about the fourth death. The fourth
member who died has been identified as Mayibongwe Phiri also from Nkulumane.
The Bulawayo Fire and Ambulance
Services also attended the scene and injured passengers had already been
ferried to the hospital by private motor vehicles.
“The brigade found the vehicle had
veered off the road and uprooted several trees before landing on its
side. All injured persons had been removed to the hospital by private motor
vehicles.
Two male adults believed to be churchmates were found guarding the wreckage. The brigade observed that all the
people including the injured were already removed from the vehicle by members
of the public before the brigade's arrival.
There were bloodstains in and outside
the vehicle which indicated some injuries to the passengers. No persons were
trapped,” said chief fire officer Linos Phiri.
Chronicle caught up with one of the
surviving group members Mrs Luvuno Dlamini who said the tragic incident was the
most traumatic the group ever had to deal with.
“All I remember hearing is that a bus
was trying to overtake us and our driver tried to avoid sideswiping and then
next thing we were rolling.
We are in pain and still recovering but we cannot get over the tragedy that
befell our sisters and brother who lost their lives while doing God’s work. We
pray for healing especially for the families who lost their loved ones,” she
said.
The executive secretary of the South
Zimbabwe Conference of the SDA church in charge of Nkulumane church where the
music group is registered Pastor Sindiso Mpofu relayed his condolences to the
affected families saying the four were dedicated ministers of the gospel.
“It is with profound sadness and a
heavy heart that we share with you the news that four members of our church
lost their lives on the 9th of April 2022, after being involved in a car
accident along the Bulawayo to Beitbridge highway at Mawabeni.
“These were dedicated members of a
singing group Gospel Symphony and they leave behind a legacy that will
long-serve to inspire and empower us to continue to work for The Lord Jesus
Christ until He comes,” said Ps Mpofu.
“We continue to pray for the speedy recovery of the injured who are still receiving medical attention. Our deepest condolences go out to their families, friends and the church at large.”-statemedia.
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