The ManicaPost
Samuel Kadungure Senior Reporter
“I DO not have anyone left.”
This was Mr Joseph Bhunu Toringepi’s summation of his life following the death of his wife and two children in the Smart Express/Bolt Cutter buses crash, on the outskirts of Rusape last Wednesday evening.
Anna Kambarami (26) was his wife while Shalom (4) and Shamma (seven months) were his only children.
At some point his sixth sense had almost convinced him to postpone their journey, but finally saw them off in a Mutare-bound Bolt Cutter bus.
Little did Mr Bhunu know that was their last time together and had no idea his world was forever changed.
Anna and her two young children died on the spot when the Bolt Cutter bus was involved in a side swipe with a Smart Express bus on the 166km peg along the Mutare-Harare Road.
Now Mr Bhunu is left with only memories, including his final interactions with his wife and children.
“Barely two hours I had hugged and told them I loved them. I wished them a safe journey and told them I was going to miss them,” he told The Manica Post.
“When the news of the accident began circulating on social media, I tried, but could not get hold of her. My heart sank. My in-laws rushed to Rusape General Hospital hoping to see them among survivors, but they were not there. They then rushed to the scene, and after almost an hour of searching, stumbled on their dead bodies,” he said.
Mr Bhunu received the devastating news the following morning.
“I broke down,” he said, adding “they were my life. She was my pillar of strength and I relied on her for almost everything; we were building our family up together,” he said.
“It was like a sharp object piercing through my heart. I could not believe and digest it. It is unbelievable that I will never hug my kids or kiss my wife again. We were a happy family and suddenly I do not have anyone left,” he said before breaking down.
Anna, who was a second-year construction economics and quantity surveying student at Harare Poly, suffered from multiple injuries including two broken femurs, ribs and a ruptured spleen.
Family and friends said the children were full of energy and life. They described Anna as a loving mother with a huge heart who always had a smile on her face.
The three were buried in Toringepi Village, Buhera, last Saturday.
Shamma and Shalom
Their bodies left Rusape in three hearses provided for free by Nyaradzo Funeral Services as part of its social responsibility.
Nyaradzo also assisted 47 other bereaved families with mortuary facilities, caskets and transport.
Nyaradzo had to summon extra manpower from other branches to ensure smooth flow of repatriation of bodies to their final resting places.
Tendai Kambarami said the company’s gesture went a long way in giving the victims a befitting burial.
Anna’s sister Emery described the incident as devastating and difficult to accept.
“This has hit us so hard, three dead bodies at a go. We are in great pain. Hazvigashiriki. Tiri kutadza kuzvigamuchira. She was going to a funeral in Rukweza. She only had two children, and together they are gone. Avhara musha wake,” she said.
Denford Chipunza Bhunu said the tragedy left them speechless.
“It is difficult accept the whole family has perished like that. Government should make sure public buses observe the maximum speed limit of 80km/hour. This accident could have been avoided if the buses were traveling at safe speed,” he said.
