Another black week for Rusape

Samuel Kadungure : Weekender Reporter

A JOYFULL plan for a Rusape man to connect his family with his in-laws in Harare ended in tragedy – about 20km from their Rusape base as the car they were travelling in was involved in accident that killed his wife and their six-months-old daughter.

The accident occurred on Sunday at around 8pm at the 151km peg along the Mutare-Harare Road – nefariously referred to as PaGijima.

Deputy Manicaland provincial police spokesperson, Assistant Inspector Luxon Chananda, confirmed the incident and revealed the names of the deceased as Kudzai Ruth Hondo-Pise (24) and her daughter, Sharma Pise (six months) – both of Number 33, Nyanga Drive, Rusape.

“The two succumbed to head, chest and neck injuries,” said Asst Insp Chananda.

He said Witness Pise who was driving the white Toyota Fun Cargo ACF 4136 escaped with head, neck and chest injuries.

Advance Dadirai (33) – a husband to Pise’s late sister, Constance Pise-Dadirai –who died following an asthmatic attack on October 20, 2015 – escaped with broken legs and head injuries and was reported to be in a critical condition at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals in Harare.

The two are in the Intensive Care Unit.

Pise, a student at Midlands State University was left to grieve the loss of Kudzai, whom he wedded on September 12, 2015 at the Apostolic Faith Mission in Zimbabwe’s Rusape City Assembly and their only child, Sharma.

Pise and his family were scheduled to meet with his in-laws (Hondo) that Sunday evening for a social gathering.

“Investigations are in progress to establish what caused the accident,” Asst Insp Chananda said.

The Weekender has established two versions on what could have happened on the black Sunday evening.

The first theory is that Pise lost control of the vehicle as he tried to avoid a stray animal and the other is that the Toyota Fun Cargo burst one of its tyres – and veered off the road, on the dangerous curve, and hit a rock outcrop on the right side of the road and rolled several times before landing on its roof.

Makoni Rural District Council chief executive officer and spokesperson of his bereaved family, Mr Edward Pise, said the pain of losing children was so painful, more than words can describe.

The loss of multiple family members has devastated his family.

Mr Pise said his son – Witness – had planned to take his family to his in-laws in Harare.

“They never made it. Ruth and the child perished in the accident. It is terrible to lose muroora nemuzukuru like that. This is the most difficult period for the family,” said Mr Pise.

On his son, Witness and son-in-law Dadirai, he had this to say: “The two are in critical conditions and are on life supporting system at Parirenyatwa Hospital. We hope their condition will stabilise”.