Zimbabwe Informational Site

The driver of the 69-seater King Lion bus which killed 43 people mostly cross border traders and injured 31 others on Wednesday night was reportedly speeding despite pleas from passengers to exercise caution.

The driver, whose name could not be established at the time of going to print, also died in the horror crash at the 257 km peg on the Harare-Chirundu highway.

It emerged that the bus had 76 passengers on-board, with some of them standing or sitting in the aisle.

The accident occurred at around 10pm on Wednesday night near the 256km peg in Nyamakate, about 40km outside Karoi along the Harare-Chirundu highway.

Drivers reportedly speed to make it in time before Chirundu Border Post closes around 10pm. They prefer sleeping after customs formalities on the Zimbabwean side of the border, before proceeding to the Zambian side when business opens the following morning.

This is done to avoid having luggage searched. Reports suggest that the buses are also used to carry contraband by crews. Another survivor, Nathan Kanaveti said some women in the bus approached the driver twice to protest about his speed.

Another bus which left Road Port in Harare earlier than the King Lion bus was overtaken before Chinhoyi. It passed the accident scene about an hour later.

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