‘I cheated death by grace’

Moffat Mungazi and Dillon Sisimayi

Post Reporters

SURVIVING a fatal road traffic accident in which several people perish is a traumatic experience.

Replaying it in one’s head or narrating the harrowing ordeal to others may be even more tormenting.

Seth Nehara (29) of Dangamvura, Mutare therefore had to summon great strength to be able to share his story with The Manica Post.

Nehara cheated death in the crash involving a Beta bus and a fuel tanker that occurred at the 242km peg along the Harare-Mutare Highway on Christmas Eve.

Three people died on the spot after the vehicles collided and burst into flames near the tollgate just outside Mutare.

The deceased were the driver of the tanker and two passengers who were burnt beyond recognition after being trapped.

The death toll rose to six after three more people who had been admitted at Victoria Chitepo Provincial Hospital succumbed to injuries sustained in the accident.

Christmas plans ruined

Although his festive season plans were ruined by the accident, Nehara is grateful that he is still alive after surviving the crash.

 

“Walking out of an accident that claimed other people’s lives is truly by God’s grace. I glorify Him for this gift of life and seeing me out of that crash alive,” he said.

On the fateful day, Nehara was travelling to his Mutare home town with his child and a female friend — only identified as Talent — from Marondera where he works.

His mother and uncle were eagerly awaiting his arrival so that they could be together for Christmas.

After arriving in Dangamvura, he intended to send his sister Morven Chapwanya some transport money so that she could come from Chiredzi to join the family for Christmas.

He recalls that at a hitch-hiking point in Marondera, the Beta bus pulled over as he was negotiating for a downward review of the US$10 fare a motorist had charged him.

“I hesitated getting onto that bus as I had never boarded it before. But I had a change of heart at the instigation of the touts who offered a cut-price deal of US$5 for the ride. However, the touts misled us as the conductor demanded US$10 as bus fare from Marondera to Mutare once we were on board and we reluctantly paid,” said Nehara.

The seats on the bus were all occupied, thereby forcing him, Talent and the child to travel as standing passengers.

They only got seated in Rusape when other passengers disembarked, occupying the three-seater on the right side of the bus.

All along the way he was in constant touch with his mother and sister, updating them of his journey as excitement of an imminent reunion among the parties grew.

The driver, narrated Nehara, briefly stopped over just after Rusape to fix a wiper.

“At that point, about four other buses that had been long left behind in Harare overtook us. Passengers started grumbling that they were running late, petitioning the driver to get to speed with the other coaches,” he said.

“But among the five-member bus crew, the elderly one queried the wisdom of speeding which would jeopardise both the journey and lives of the passengers.”

The last time Nehara spoke to his sister was when they were at Riverside and she was surprised at how fast they had gotten there.
Nehara says the bus was now speeding.

When they were around the Matongo area just before the Mutare tollgate, the driver avoided hitting three pedestrians that had strayed onto the road and encroached into the lane of oncoming traffic.

“I lifted my head as Talent shouted “Look out!”. As I raised my head the bus and the tanker collided with a loud bang. I was thrown under the seat and getting up was difficult,” he said.
Talent carried the child to safety through the bus’s shattered windows.

Nehara finally managed to stagger to safety. Said Nehara: “I got back onto the bus to pick my bags and came out with some woman’s child.

“I had a brief exchange with the driver about what had really transpired. He brushed me aside, saying this was not the proper time for such a conversation. The driver alerted me that fuel was leaking from the tanker and real danger that imminent as the tanker would explode anytime,” said Nehara.

Rescue mission

About 20 minutes later, the tanker exploded and the vehicles caught fire.

“It is not true that the fire started immediately upon impact, otherwise we would have all perished. I even had time to wash the blood on my face in a nearby ditch before I getting back on the bus to rescue the other child. The majority of the people on the bus were helped out,” he said.

Ambulances and the fire brigade arrived at the accident scene almost an hour later.

Nehara said the fire brigade crew was nearly manhandled by the angry scores of people that had gathered to assist after pitching up without water in the fire engine.

The ambulances, he added, were ferrying the victims in pairs only, citing Covid-19 protocols.

Nehara was eventually whisked away to the hospital in a passerby’s car.

Social media brigade

Social media is useful and helpful only when put to good use, but becomes toxic when in the wrong hands.

This is the gospel according to Nehara.

He has no kind words for people who attend accident scenes only to capture footage without giving a hand to the victims.

He described such acts as evil.

Fumed Nehara: “What kind of person just shoots videos and takes pictures for social media without helping accident victims? We should also desist from relaying false and unverified information as this causes unnecessary panic.

“Word was already doing rounds on social media that only eight out of 72 passengers had survived the crash, which was not the case at all,” he said.

Heart of gold

But in the heat of the moment, there were some people who had the presence of mind and courage to plot and execute a daring rescue mission under the perilous circumstances.

Sirizani Butau sustained burns on his hands and legs as he tried to pull the driver of the fuel tanker to safety.

Nehara doffed his hat to Butau: “He is a hero, a great man and champion of the people. I wish him a speedy recovery.”

Nehara also showered praises on the personnel at Victoria Chitepo Provincial Hospital for their diligence and care.

“The man who ferried me to the hospital still calls me to this day and I want to thank him for his big heart and urge others to be that kind and generous even to strangers,” purred Nehara.

Road to recovery

Nehara sustained a cut on the head which required three stitches. He also had five stitches on the back before being discharged on the same day.

He made some progress in recovering at home before returning to his base in Marondera.

“I am getting better although my legs, chest and back still hurt. I am due for review on Thursday (yesterday),” he said.