Investigations have laid bare the speculations that, overloading and speeding were the main cause of a deadly bus crash that claimed 42 lives and left 49 others badly injured.
The horrific accident happened on Sunday near Ingwe Lodge in Tshambuzi, Makhado, Zimbabwe.
Transport Minister Barbara Creecy confirmed that the bus, which was only approved to carry 60 passengers, was overloaded with 91 people on board.
The vehicle reportedly veered off the embankment around 5pm while travelling from Gqeberha in the Eastern Cape to Harare, Zimbabwe, with some Malawian nationals on board.
Among the deceased were 7 children, 17 men, and 18 women. The injured were taken to Louis Trichardt, Siloam, and Elim hospitals, while one critically injured child was airlifted to Tshilidzini Hospital.
Tragically, none of the three drivers survived. The identification process for victims bbegins on Wednesday.
Damning Recovery Of Stolen ARVs Boxes
Authorities have launched a full-scale investigation after boxes of antiretroviral (ARV) drugs and other prescription medications were discovered among the wreckage of a cross-border bus.
Emergency responders and police found a box containing ARVs and other medical supplies in the bus.
“This is highly irregular,” said a senior official involved in the recovery operation.
“There was no documentation for the medical cargo, and it’s unclear whether the transport of these drugs was legal or who the intended recipient was.” The official added.
Authorities are now treating the crash site as both an accident scene and a potential site of pharmaceutical smuggling.
ARVs, used to manage HIV, are tightly regulated and are often subject to trafficking due to their high value and demand in the region.
