By Paul Nyathi| President Emerson Mnangagwa has declared the road accident in which 21 people were killed in Jimila village of Tsholotsho a state of national disaster.

The announcement, which was made through the director of the Civil Protection Unit, Mr Nathan Nkomo, is in terms of Section 27(1) of the Civil Protection Act.

The status allows the state to mobilise resources to assist the injured and bereaved families with burial arrangements.

The accident occurred on Saturday at around 4pm at the 35km peg along the Tsholotsho-Sipepa Road just under half a kilometre to their destination in Jimila Centre.

The truck was carrying 71 people and 17 are still admitted in hospitals in Bulawayo with 2 of them battling for life in the ICU at Mpilo Hospital. 11 others are still at Tsholotsho Hospital in a stable condition while the rest were treated and discharged.

The victims were all members of a Ministry of Health and Child Care malaria control programme team that was doing duty in Matabeleland North Province.

Survivors accused the driver who is amongst the seriously injured of drinking and speeding.

National police spokesperson Chief Superintended Paul Nyathi confirmed the accident and said investigations were underway.

“Police would like to confirm the death of 21 people who were killed in a road accident that occurred in Tsholotsho.

“The accident occurred after the driver of a Nissan UD truck that was travelling to Tsholotsho with 69 passengers on board failed to negotiate a curve and lost control of the vehicle, which veered off to the right and overturned several times before landing on its roof,” he said.

“Fifteen people died on the spot, while six others died on admission at Tsholotsho District Hospital,” he said.

Chief Supt Nyathi said bodies of the deceased were taken to Mpilo Central Hospital mortuary, while the injured were taken to Mpilo Central Hospital and United Bulawayo Hospitals.

“Names of the deceased will be released in due course,” he said.

Government has already started working on modalities to give State assistance to the bereaved families for them to give their loved ones a decent burial.

The injured will also get government assistance.