Thursday, 31 October morning dawned with unimaginable sorrow for the families and loved ones of those lost in a devastating accident at Kuwadzana 7 turn-off on the Harare-Bulawayo Highway.
What began as a routine journey in a Toyota Hiace commuter omnibus ended tragically when it collided with a fuel tanker, claiming seven lives and leaving a community in mourning.
The images of twisted metal and shattered glass paint a picture too raw for words.
One cannot help but wonder about the moments before the impact—how those aboard might have felt, the overwhelming helplessness as an ordinary journey became a final ride.
Did they sense the impending tragedy, or did it come as a mercifully brief instant, sparing them the terror of realisation?
Such questions haunt us in the wake of accidents like these, underlining the fragility of life and the tragedy of loss.
For the families of those who perished, this is an unbearable grief.
To lose someone in such a violent, sudden way leaves an ache that words can barely touch.
No farewell, no closure, just an abrupt, painful absence that reshapes lives in an instant.
Our hearts go out to these families as they face an unimaginable void, the haunting reality that the morning’s routine will never come again.
And for the survivors, there remains the weight of trauma, the burden of healing from both physical and emotional scars.
In these times, we hold them close in spirit, sending hope for healing, comfort, and a gradual peace to settle upon them.
A Crisis on Wheels
The commuter omnibus industry has long been plagued by problems, many rooted in the desperation to earn a living in a challenging economy.
Unlicensed vehicles, poorly maintained transport, and exhausted or untrained drivers are all factors that contribute to the daily risks facing passengers.
Our roads are lined with vehicles that should be held to the highest safety standards yet barely scrape by, endangering lives with every journey.
And as a society, we are left to grapple with the heart-wrenching outcomes when corners are cut and lives are lost.
It is time to confront these realities and demand systemic changes.
Government agencies, community leaders, and the private sector must come together to enforce stricter regulations and improve the quality of public transport.
Regular inspections of public service vehicles are critical.
More rigorous training for drivers should be mandated, and stiff penalties imposed on those who flout the laws.
For far too long, commuters have had little choice but to board these “coffins on wheels” due to limited alternatives, perpetuating a cycle of neglect and risk.
Turning Grief into Action
This tragedy must not be in vain. As a nation, we can honor those lost by committing ourselves to a future where public transport no longer holds us hostage to fear.
This is a call to action; a demand for safer roads, higher standards, and more accountability.
Those of us fortunate enough to travel safely today must stand up for those whose journeys have ended far too soon.
In these moments of sorrow, we remember the lives lost, the futures unrealised, and the families left behind.
And we pledge to turn this pain into purpose, striving for a future where tragedies like this are no longer part of our daily news, but rather distant memories of a past we have chosen to leave behind.