By A Correspondent- At least 29 passengers escaped death by a whisker after a bus they were travelling on caught fire near Mutoko business centre in Mashonaland East on Monday.

Provincial police spokesperson Inspector Simon Chazovachii confirmed the incident and urged drivers to ensure their buses are in good working condition before travelling.

“I can confirm a fire incident involving a bus in Mutoko. As police, we urge drivers to thoroughly check their buses for possible mechanical faults before embarking on journeys,” he said.

It is reported that on September 11, at around 1pm, Dzviti Mavhura (51), driving a Zebra Kiss coach, was travelling towards Nyamapanda with 29 passengers on board when he noticed smoke coming from the dashboard before pulling off the road to check.

He noticed that the bus was on fire and alerted passengers who disembarked safely.

Some of the passengers managed to remove their luggage before the bus was engulfed in flames.