Police in Bulawayo have released the names of two men who were killed when a commuter omnibus lost control and struck pedestrians along 6th Avenue on Wednesday evening, leaving a further 12 people injured.
The victims were identified as Christopher Mukuwapasi, believed to be in his late 30s, and Lizwe Ncube, aged about 30, both residents of Cowdray Park.
The two men died at the scene and their bodies were taken to the United Bulawayo Hospitals for post-mortem examinations.
Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Nomalanga Msebele said the 28-year-old driver of a Toyota Hiace kombi from Emakhandeni had been charged with culpable homicide.
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“On the 28th of January 2026 at around 2016 hours, a male adult aged 28 of Emakhandeni, Bulawayo, was driving a Toyota Hiace Kombi due west along 6th Avenue with 18 passengers on board. He lost control of the vehicle, swerved to the left and hit 14 people who were standing near the road and some were walking near OK Egodini and lastly the vehicle hit the OK Egodini wall and stopped,” she said.
She added that as a result of the crash, Mukuwapasi and Ncube “died on the spot” while 12 others sustained injuries and were taken to Mpilo Central Hospital for treatment.
Inspector Msebele said preliminary investigations indicated the accident was caused by speeding and failure to keep a proper lookout, leading to the culpable homicide charge against the driver.
She urged motorists to exercise caution, particularly in areas with heavy pedestrian traffic.
“Drivers should be extra careful when driving, be on the lookout for pedestrians at all times, avoid over-speeding and high take-off speeds especially in places with high pedestrian movements, and observe all road rules and regulations so as to avoid such accidents,” she said.
Inspector Msebele also called on public transport operators to employ properly licensed and experienced drivers, while advising passengers to board vehicles only at designated pick-up points.
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