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Thupeyo Muleya Beitbridge Bureau
The Zimbabwe Embassy in South Africa has sent a team led by its Consul General Mrs Melody Chaurura to Musina to help with the identification of seven Zimbabweans who died in a road accident on Sunday night.

The accident occurred some few kilometres before the Beitbridge Border Post along the N1 Highway.

The seven, most of them believed to be from Chiredzi District, met their fate when a South Africa-registered Toyota Fortuner they were travelling in rammed into the trailer of a haulage truck.

It is reported that the Toyota Fortuner was heading towards Musina, while the heavy vehicle was travelling towards the border.

“This is a very sad incident and we sympathise with the bereaved families,” said Zimbabwe’s envoy to South Africa, Mr David Hamadziripi.

“On behalf of the Government and embassy staff, I want to express our heartfelt condolences and may they find comfort in God during this tragic  moment.”

The embassy has sent a team led by Consular-General, Mrs Chaurura, to liaise with local police and other authorities and help with the identification and repatriation processes.

The objective was to make the whole process seamless and ensure the victims’ remains were repatriated as soon as possible and were afforded a decent burial back home.

Limpopo police spokesperson Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo yesterday confirmed that all the victims were Zimbabweans and that they were in the midst of notifying their next of kin.

He said they were also investigating a case of culpable homicide.

“All the deceased are from Zimbabwe, but the vehicle belongs to a South African who stays in Groblersdal,” said Brig Mojapelo. “We have identified most of them, while a few processes are pending for the others. I will get back to you as soon as we have a full list of names.”

Brig Mojapelo said the incident occurred around 9.30pm, involving the truck which reportedly entered  the highway from the Petros Truck Stop located next to the highway.

The truck suddenly turned into the N1 Road facing Beitbridge when the Fortuner, coming from the northerly direction towards Musina, rammed into its trailer.

Emergency personnel removed bodies from the wreckage of their vehicle that was trapped under the   truck.