BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI
The driver of the Zupco bus that was involved in a traffic accident that left eight people injured is on the run after he disappeared from the scene before police arrived, it has emerged.
Police say driver of the Zupco bus that was travelling to Bulawayo from Binga, who was racing with a Stallion Cruise bus, lost control of the vehicle that went on to hit a tree near the Mabhikwa turn-off.
Nineteen people were aboard the bus.
A police memo obtained by this publication showed that the driver only identified as Mandlenkosi has not been accounted for.
He allegedly tried to overtake the Stallion bus against oncoming traffic.
“(The) bus was traveling from Binga to Bulawayo,” the police memo read.
” (The) driver tried to overtake, but there was an oncoming traffic.
“He then swerved back to avoid collision, but unfortunately, veered off the road and uprooted trees before landing on the side.
“The conductor is well, but the driver still not seen from the scene.”
Meanwhile, traffic police have been instructed to be tough on speeding buses along the Victoria Falls-Bulawayo highway, which has been recording a spate of accidents involving public transport vehicles.
“Kindly requesting the ZRP traffic section to urgently take charge as buses are competing for customers and over speeding along the Bulawayo-Falls Road,” the police memo added.
“May the traffic section also take charge on the Lupane-Nkayi road newly tarred five kilometre stretch as the motorists are speeding.”
Police also appealed for road signs from the Ministry of Transport in order to curb accidents.
“We want to avoid accidents from henceforth and also for the oncoming festive season,” the memo added.