shloboe boe
Ashley Phiri, ashleyphiri66@gmail.com
A sombre atmosphere pervaded Bulawayo’s Nketa neighbourhood as friends, family and community members bid farewell to Mrs Monica Tichava and her 13-year-old son, Tawanda Mbako, who lost their lives in a horrific road accident.
Their bodies were transported to Bikita for burial on Wednesday next week.
The devastating accident occurred on Sunday when Emmanuel Sibanda (29) lost control of his silver Honda Fit, veering off the road and ploughing into 11 pedestrians.
Mrs Tichava died instantly, while 17-year-old Loraine Ruvarashe Shoko succumbed to injuries at Mpilo Central Hospital. Tawanda Mbako, who was critically injured, died the following day. His eight-year-old brother, Takunda Mbako, remains in the ICU fighting for his life.
Family spokesperson Mrs Rosaria Nedure, who witnessed the accident, described the heart-wrenching moment.
“We were coming from an all-night prayer session at the mountain, walking in a group of 12. A speeding Honda Fit appeared from nowhere, and I don’t even know what happened next. I just heard a loud noise and realised everyone around me had been hit,” said Mrs Nedure.
She said the family is struggling to come to terms with the loss.
“We’re devastated by the loss of two precious lives. Losing a child is painful because children are meant to bury their parents, not the other way around. Our hearts are broken and we pray that God gives us the strength to heal,” she said.
Close friend and neighbour Mrs Gloria Msipha remembered Mrs Tichava as a kind-hearted woman devoted to God and her community.
“We’ve lost a good neighbour. I knew her from church where we prayed together in our cell group. She was a hardworking woman, always welcoming, and many of us bought bread and vegetables from her,” she said.
Ruvarashe Shoko (17), another victim, was laid to rest in Zaka on Wednesday. Neighbours described her as a bright and ambitious young woman with a promising future.
“Ruva had recently completed her O-levels with excellent results and was preparing for A-level. Her parents had high hopes for her, but her life was tragically cut short,” said a family friend.
Mrs Nedure urged motorists to exercise caution, emphasising that excessive speed worsened the accident’s impact.
“I encourage drivers to be cautious. We understand the driver lost control, but he was speeding. I strongly believe if he had been driving at a reasonable speed, the accident wouldn’t have been as severe.”
Bulawayo provincial police acting spokesperson, Assistant Inspector Nomalanga Msebele, echoed these concerns, urging road users to prioritise safety. “We appeal to motorists to exercise due care, and patience, and adhere to traffic regulations to prevent innocent lives from being lost. Pedestrians must also remain vigilant and visible when walking along the roads,” she said.
Asst Insp Msebele said the driver is facing charges of culpable homicide due to speeding and failure to control his vehicle.
