Update: Gweru swept away car found

Update: Gweru swept away car found. The authorities have sighted the Toyota Hilux double cab vehicle and the Local Fire Brigade is trying to recover the bodies and the vehicle. The compressor it was towing was found dumped on the riverbank, a few kilometres downstream.

Six people, including the driver, are feared dead after a Toyota Hilux double cab vehicle was swept off a flooded bridge on Gweru River along the Gweru-Matobo Road yesterday morning.

“The District Civil Protection Unit and the sub-aqua unit spent the whole day searching for the missing six people believed to be four male and two female adults who were swept away by the flooded Gweru River this morning. The search continued until this evening, but no one has been found yet,” said Insp Mahoko. He said according to a witness, the Toyota Hilux was towing a mining compressor when it was swept away.

“Norlan Mupfiga who was driving towards Matobo found the river flooded and parked his vehicle hoping the water levels would subside.. The white Toyota Hilux which was behind him tried to drive past the flooded river bridge and it was swept away. Mr Mupfiga rushed to make a police report at Mtapa Police Station,” said Insp Mahoko.

He said the CPU and police sub-aqua unit went to the bridge and started searching for the vehicle and its occupants. Insp Mahoko warned motorists and pedestrians against crossing rivers in flood or low-level bridges underwater. The government yesterday warned people against crossing rivers in flood following a number of incidents of people being swept away or marooned on islands midstream.

In a statement, Local Government and Public Works Acting Minister Dr Jenfan Muswere implored citizens to be cautious and exercise patience by avoiding crossing rivers in flood.

“This rainy season has been characterised by incessant numerous incidents and activated rescue efforts where citizens tried to cross rivers in flood and were marooned across the country,” said Minister Muswere.

Source – Bulawayo24

In other news – Police: If you die in Harare you will be buried in Harare

Police: If you die in Harare you will be buried in Harare. Police have since been ordered to block any movement of corpses. The government announced the measures last night as 978 new cases and 24 deaths were recorded countrywide.

The government has said that from now on, people who die will be buried in towns or areas in which they would have died and there will be no body-viewing…Learn More.