The Sunday News
Sindisiwe Sibanda, Sunday News Reporter
THE 69-year-old man from Woodville suburb in Bulawayo, whose cousin died in a road traffic accident, while on their way to his brother’s funeral, has blamed the accident on stray animals that had wandered on to the road.
Mr Abednico Sikhuni, in an interview last week said they were on their way to attend his brother’s funeral in Bazha Village in Matopo, before the accident occurred. Mr Sikhuni said when they were approaching the 30km peg from Bulawayo there was a stray goat meandering on the road.
“I was driving a Mazda Bongo pick-up vehicle with six relatives on board. When I approached the 30km peg I saw a goat on the road. I then hooted and it ran off. It then ran back on to the road, where I hit it with the fender of the car, before swerving off the road and hitting three fence lines,” said Mr Sikhuni.
He said he was travelling at a speed of 60 to 65km per hour, unlike what was being speculated by alleged witnesses. Mr Sikhuni noted that after the crash he rushed out of the vehicle to check on his relatives, only to discover that his cousin was badly injured.
“When the ambulance came it took him to United Bulawayo Hospitals but he was not admitted there due to reasons we are still not aware of. He was then taken to Mpilo Hospital where he was admitted but passed on the next day at around 9am,” said Mr Sikhuni.
He said he was aggrieved by the incident.
“I am hurt by this incident because now my cousin’s children are left fatherless. I am being haunted by what happened but I wish that my nieces and nephews get to know the truth and heal from it,” said Mr Sikhuni.
Matabeleland South acting provincial police spokesperson Inspector Loveness Mangena confirmed the incident.
