The ManicaPost
Post Reporters
SUNDAY’s harrowing Trip Trans road accident in which the bus driver had his head crushed into a bloody pulp by the vehicle’s rear wheels happened right in the eyes of several witnesses who were left shocked by the tragedy.
The scene of the accident was disturbing as body parts were strewn all over the tarmac.
At face value, witnesses thought that the person who had been run over by the bus was the conductor but it later turned out that the deceased was in fact the driver, who was supposed to be behind the steering wheel.
The supposed driver was an impostor.
Mangweru Chiweru died on the spot while his conductor, Tinashe Tiripamberi, who unlawfully drove the bus and ran over his colleague has been arrested on culpable homicide charges.
Traffic police officers who attended the scene had a torrid moment to scrub off the remains from the tarmac and placed them in a metal coffin.
The corpse was quickly taken to the adjacent Mutare Provincial Hospital mortuary, a few metres away from the scene of the accident.
Tiripamberi is being accused of driving the bus with an invalid Class 2 driver’s licence and is held solely responsible for causing the death of Chiweru. Among the people who witnessed the tragedy as it unfolded was The Manica Post’s Correspondent, Liberty Dube, who was on his way to watch a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match pitting Manica Diamonds and Highlanders in Rusape.
“I was driving right behind the bus when the incident happened at around 1pm. I didn’t know that the bus which had about 50 passengers on board was being driven by the conductor.
“The bus was moving slowly right ahead of us along the Mutare-Harare Highway picking up passengers. The bus ferried some passengers at Mutare Provincial Hospital and at that time the ‘driver’ and the ‘conductor’ were communicating.
“Chiweru was running by the door, mimicking what rank marshals do. He was actually loading passengers while Tiripamberi revved the machine, apparently heating it up for the long journey. However, the bus picked up speed and Chiweru attempted to jump on board. He slipped on the steps and fell beneath the vehicle. He was crushed and Tiripamberi only stopped after realising the mishap,” said Dube.
The scene was not ideal for those of a nervous disposition as body parts were scattered on the tarmac. In a moment, hundreds of people and motorists stopped by to witness the ghastly accident.
Police said although the conductor has a valid Class 2 drivers licence, he was not supposed to driver a bus which is supposed to be driven by a Class 1 driver.
Other requirements of Class 1 licence holder is a defensive driver’s certificate, medical certificate and a retest certificate.
Tiripamberi is set to appear in court soon facing culpable homicide charges.
