chronicle
Flora Fadzai Sibanda, Chronicle Reporter
Mr. Martin Nyakadumba (32), from the Mzilikazi suburb of Bulawayo, was involved in a car accident in 2019 that left his mother dead and confined to a wheelchair.
He said his car was hit head-on by another car that passed through the red robot and was speeding.
Mr Nyakadumba said he still remembers his mother crying like it was yesterday as she screamed as the speeding car came straight towards them.
He said he collapsed when the car hit them and could not remember what happened afterward.
“The next day I woke up in the hospital. For hours I was confused about what had happened. When I think about it, I was told my mother was recovering at home because they were afraid to tell me at the time, fearing it would make the situation worse,” Mr Nyakadumba said.
He said he only found out about his mother’s death when his family took him to him on the day of the funeral.
Mr Nyakadumba said the pain of finding himself unable to walk and finding out his mother had died hit him hard.
After the funeral, he said, he became suicidal because he had the support of his wife, who frustrated him both physically and financially.
“Due to an accident, I am now confined to a wheelchair. My wife is now the only provider in the family. Of course, she has never complained about taking care of me, but as a man, sometimes I do,” said Mr Nyakadumba.
Mr Sandile Moyo was also lucky to survive an accident on Victoria Falls Road two years ago during the festival. He said he was with nine of his friends, four of whom died at the scene and three others in hospital. Mr Moyo said he wished they had been wiser and more cautious that day. Part of his left hand was injured, so he quit his job as a mechanic because he couldn’t keep working.
“We were so drunk that day that the driver lost control of the car. I wish we had camped somewhere for the night instead of DUI. Actually, my left hand doesn’t work properly. I was injured in the accident, so Now it’s a recurring problem and it’s made me quit my job,” Mr Moyo said.
He said he is now a gardener in the Southwold suburb, but he sometimes faces challenges with pain in his hand as it gets sore and the pain also affects his legs.
Mr Kelvin Banda said he was involved in an accident on his way to Victoria Falls in 2019 that nearly claimed his life.
He said the kombi driver appeared to be drunk, was speeding and did not want to hear anyone reprimand him.
Mr Banda said the driver lost control of his car as he was still speeding and when he realized it was about to roll over, he opened the door and fled.
“The car rolled over four times amidst people screaming and crying. When the car was pulled over to the side of the road, I found my legs were numb and I couldn’t move. After 10 days in a public hospital, my family transferred me to a private hospital, where I underwent surgery and doctors put nails and metal in my leg because it was broken,” he said.
Four people died instantly.
“Since then, I don’t use the bus every time I travel. I’d rather drive myself or take the bus,” he said.
Ms Zandile Sithole was involved in a hit and run in South Africa in 2017.
She said she was returning from get off work when she was hit by a car while crossing a zebra crossing.
car accident
Ms Sithole said she had to undergo head surgery to survive the accident.
“Nobody believed I would survive because my surgery was very delicate and required extra care. After the surgery I was told I couldn’t work anymore because I shouldn’t be stressed. I was told if I stressed I could end up losing my life Really sad to hear that my life is over just like that because I can’t even work for my kids right now. My only prayer is that I never lose my mind because that would leave my family with a lot of work, “she says.
These four are one of the lucky few who have been able to tell their stories after their accident, even scarred.
Speaking recently at the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims in Bulawayo, Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Development Felix Mhona revealed that 1,559 people were killed in road accidents in the country from January to September this year , 7,851 people were injured. same period.
minister felix mkhona
It is clear from the latest statistics that the roads are no longer safe for many, as those lucky enough to survive accidents are left scarred for life.
Recent statistics translate to an accident every 15 minutes and an average of 45 injuries a day, with the worst on Friday nights, Saturdays and during the holiday season.
Most worrying is that public transport accidents account for nearly 50% of the total number of accidents. — @flora_sibanda
