Mugodhi Apostolic Faith Sect church has withheld its annual Easter celebration after thirteen of its members died, while several others were injured after a lorry loaded with bags of maize veered off the road and ploughed into worshippers at a roadside shrine in Wedza on Monday morning, reports say.
The mishap took place at the famous Chitope area, popularly known as PaJerusarema, where thousands of sect members converge each year this time for their Passover feast.
Bishop Tony Sigauke, one of the church leaders, announced the congregation gathering would no longer continue because they had to return home to lament the deceased simultaneously.
“I have never experienced such a tragedy ever since we started worshipping here in 1962. We had our Passover Feast last night and some decided to go back home, despite the event concluding on April 21. Ten of our members died, while one who died is a vendor. We are going to cut the event short so that we mourn together as a family,” he said.
Six people perished on the spot, five others were pronounced dead on arrival at Mt St Mary’s Mission Hospital, while three died after admission.
Of the deceased, three are from the same family in Mashambamuto, Buhera.
“Those who died are from Buhera, who were by the roadside to get transport back home,” said Bishop Sigauke.
Mashonaland East provincial police spokesperson Inspector Tendai Mwanza and National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the accident and said investigations were underway.
“The accident occurred around 11 am along Hwedza-Mutiweshiri Road when a truck carrying maize side-swiped a bus which had encroached into its lane. The lorry hit a Toyota Hilux and ran over church members who were standing by the roadside, waiting for transport,” said Nyathi.
The Newsday team said police were busy loading corpses into their truck before ferrying them to Mt St Mary’s Mission Hospital mortuary, while some congregants were busy covering blood spilt on the ground with soil while the lorry and the maize were still by the roadside when they arrived at the scene.
A witness, Champion Nota (35), said the driver of the lorry was speeding.
“There are a lot of people at this place and because of parking space problems, drivers leave their cars along the highway on both sides, leaving a narrow lane. So, the driver of the lorry was speeding upon approaching the area and to avoid a head-on collision with a bus that was going the opposite direction, he veered off the road and ploughed into people and their goods,” he said.
About 40 000 pilgrims converge at Chitope, a Mugodhi Apostolic Sect headquarters in Wedza, for Easter and other gatherings. The area is home to two sects after a split a few years ago. Both sects hold their events along the Wedza-Murambinda Highway.
The gatherings also attract business with vendors flocking to sell their wares.
For years, it has turned out to be a daunting task for other motorists to pass through the shrine due to traffic jams, with some taking almost an hour to pass through.
Mashonaland East Provincial Affairs ministry Director Muchemwa Mugwisi, who was at the scene, said in the long-term, there is a need to relocate the churches to a safe place.
“We need a long-term solution to this. We need to find space for these churches in an area that is not a threat to human life.”
Meanwhile, the apostolic sect is appealing for assistance from the government and well-wishers in burying the deceased members.
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