The city of Mutare is grappling with grief and shock following a devastating weekend in which two separate road accidents claimed the lives of highly respected community figures within just a few hours of each other.
What began as an ordinary weekend quickly turned into one of the darkest periods in recent memory, as news of the back-to-back tragedies spread across the eastern city, leaving families and residents struggling to come to terms with their loss.
The first incident occurred early on Saturday morning when war veteran Amos Chinyamutangira, aged 63, was struck and killed in a suspected hit-and-run accident at the 9 Miles area along the Mutare–Masvingo Road.
According to family members, Chinyamutangira had been waiting for transport at the roadside bus stop, preparing to travel into Mutare to collect his monthly war veterans’ allowance, when the tragedy occurred. His body was later discovered lying by the roadside.
His niece, Ms. Rumbidzai Chinyamutangira, confirmed the devastating news, describing her late uncle as both a devoted family man and a pillar of the community.
“We were informed this morning that he had been killed in a hit-and-run incident at the 9 Miles bus stop. At the time, he was waiting for transport to travel to Mutare to collect his war veterans’ allowances,” she said.
She added that the family was still waiting for official clarification from the authorities regarding the exact circumstances. “We understand his body was found lying by the roadside, but we are yet to receive detailed information from police,” she explained.
Mutare Plunged Into Mourning After Bloody Weekend of Tragedies
The incident has left the family deeply shaken, with relatives and neighbours gathering at his rural homestead to console one another. Many described him as a man who had lived quietly but purposefully, committed to the wellbeing of both his immediate family and the wider community.
Police are expected to release a full statement as investigations into the accident continue.
Even as the community was processing Chinyamutangira’s death, further tragedy struck later that evening. Around 11pm on Saturday, a deadly crash occurred at the Himalaya Turn-Off along the Mutare–Chimanimani Road, claiming seven lives. Among the dead was Mr. Godfrey Chikosi, a well-known transporter and businessman in Mutare.
Witnesses say the accident was violent, with four people—including Chikosi—dying instantly at the scene. Two others succumbed to injuries while receiving treatment at Victoria Chitepo Provincial Hospital, while one survivor remains in a critical condition under intensive medical care.
The news of Chikosi’s sudden death spread rapidly across the city. He was regarded as one of the stalwarts of the local transport industry, known for his entrepreneurial spirit and for employing dozens of people in Mutare and surrounding areas.
Fellow transporter Mr. Isau Mupfumi confirmed the tragic development and personally dispatched a team to the crash site in the early hours of Sunday morning to assist with recovery efforts and provide solidarity to the affected families.
“This is a huge loss to us as transport operators and to Mutare as a whole. Mr. Chikosi was more than a colleague—he was a brother and a friend. His contribution to the growth of our sector will not be forgotten,” Mupfumi said.
The two tragedies, occurring barely hours apart, have cast a pall of sadness across Mutare. Residents say it is rare for the city to be hit with such double misfortune in such a short space of time, particularly involving two figures who played important roles in the community’s social and economic life.
Chinyamutangira, as a war veteran, carried with him the respect of having contributed to Zimbabwe’s liberation struggle, while Chikosi was celebrated as an industrious businessman whose work helped sustain livelihoods in the transport sector.
At their respective homes, mourners began streaming in as news of the deaths spread. Wails of grief could be heard as families recounted the contributions of both men and struggled with the reality of their sudden departure.
“Both of them were men of the people. They represented different parts of our society but were equally important. To lose them like this, on the same day, is unbearable,” said one community elder in Mutare.
The weekend’s fatalities have also reignited calls for urgent improvements in road safety across Manicaland Province. The Mutare–Masvingo and Mutare–Chimanimani roads are both considered high-risk routes, with frequent accidents blamed on speeding, poor lighting, and lack of road maintenance.
Community leaders and residents are urging authorities to step up enforcement of traffic regulations and to prioritise the rehabilitation of the province’s key highways to prevent further loss of life.
“We cannot continue losing our people like this. These roads have become death traps,” lamented one resident during a visit to the Himalaya crash site.
As funeral arrangements for both men get underway, Mutare remains in collective mourning. The deaths of Chinyamutangira and Chikosi have left painful voids in both family and community life, and their absence will be deeply felt.
For many, the weekend of August 30–31 will be remembered not just as a time of loss but also as a stark reminder of the fragility of life and the urgent need to make Zimbabwe’s roads safer.
Source- ZimEye
