- Two soldiers die on their way to Parirenyatwa hospital, three die later in army hospital
- ZNA maintains culture of keeping secretive activities within its ranks
FIVE soldiers are feared dead after a Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) bus last week veered off the road, crashing by the roadside along the Harare-Bulawayo highway opposite Kuwadzana high density suburb.
Initially, ZNA deputy spokesperson Major Alex Zuva denied that there were any fatalities in the accident, saying only 11 army personnel had been injured in an interview with Zim Morning Post.
“Eleven soldiers who were injured were taken to Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals for medical attention and others were admitted at army hospitals in Harare. Currently, we have not yet received information concerning deaths of soldiers. If there are deaths, we will let the media know,” he said then.
But a close source who was also in the accident bus on Sunday revealed to this publication that a total of five soldiers had so far been confirmed dead in the accident, with two dying while on the way to Parirenyatwa.
Three of the soldiers involved in the accident later died while admitted at ZNA hospitals in the capital where they had been taken for treatment.
The Zim Morning Post source who resides in Kuwadzana Extension said although he was not critically injured, army bosses instructed that he be taken to Parirenyatwa for scanning and counseling as he was apparently shocked by the incident.
The Kuwadzana Extension resident said the military refused his wife access to his ward, saying what had happened was not civilian business.
“I was told not to interfere with their (military) person, saying what had happened should be left to the ZNA,” said the accident survivor’s wife.
The ZNA has often been accused of keeping secret, concerns of a public nature happening within its ranks.
