Andile Tshuma and Danisa Masuku

A SOMBRE mood engulfed Bulawayo’s illegal 6th Avenue taxi rank last night after two vendors were killed and 17 others seriously injured when a commuter omnibus allegedly suffered brake failure and ploughed into them.

The tragedy occurred shortly after 9PM at the intersection of 6th Avenue and Lobengula Street, a busy corridor that doubles as the city’s informal trading hub.

When a Zimpapers news crew arrived at the scene, scores of people had gathered, many visibly shaken as police and emergency services from the Bulawayo Fire Brigade worked to assist the injured. Some victims had already been rushed to hospital, while others were still being loaded into ambulances. The bodies of the two deceased lay at the scene before police took them away.

Police and onlookers at the accident scene on 6th Avenue in Bulawayo yesterday
Bulawayo City Council chief fire and ambulance services officer, Mr Mhlangano Moyo, said:

“Our teams reacted swiftly, but sadly, two people had already died on the spot due to severe impact and bleeding.

“We transported the injured using three ambulance vehicles. Some are in critical condition, while others are stable.”

Eyewitnesses said the kombi driver attempted to avoid colliding with another vehicle, swerved and lost control, before the commuter omnibus veered off the road and slammed into vendors who operate along the roadside.

A vendor, who identified himself only as Nkanyiso, said the kombi suddenly veered into the crowd.

“While people were seated, the kombi lost its braking system and swerved off the road, ploughing into vendors. Many people were injured,” he said.

Several vending stalls and pushcarts were extensively damaged, leaving traders counting losses amid the tragedy.

Another vendor, Ms Sibanda, said she narrowly escaped death after standing up moments before the crash.

“I had just stood up to look for change for a customer when I heard a loud noise and screams.

“The vehicle rammed into people less than a metre from my stall. I am still shaking — it could have been me,” she said.

Police vehicles were seen collecting the bodies of the deceased as investigations into the cause of the accident began.

The 6th Avenue corridor has long been a high-risk zone, characterised by heavy traffic, commuter omnibus congestion and informal vending.

Authorities have repeatedly warned against illegal vending and unregulated taxi ranks, citing safety risks to both traders and motorists.