The Harare-Bulawayo highway, a notorious stretch of road known for its accidents, claimed the lives of two women in a horrific head-on collision on Monday afternoon.
Among the victims, which occurred between Gweru and Kwekwe was Dr Christinah Dhlamini, a highly respected senior lecturer at Solusi University, and her cousin, Mrs Tracy Mangena.
The accident occurred just after the tollgate, involving a Honda Fit carrying the two women and a Mercedes Benz. According to Midlands Provincial Police Spokesperson, Inspector Emmanuel Mahoko, the Mercedes Benz, driven by Cloud Mararike, 46, of Shurugwi, veered into the oncoming lane after its steering locked.
“The driver of the Mercedes Benz encroached onto the oncoming traffic lane after the car locked its steering,” Inspector Mahoko confirmed. “Two from the Honda Fit died on the spot.”
Coincidentally, the Mercedes Benz driver shares a name an surname with the late University of Zimbabwe senior lecturer, Professor Claude Mararike, who died in 2022.
The two women were on their way to Kwekwe District Hospital to visit a relative who was admitted there. The other two passengers in the Honda Fit sustained injuries and are currently receiving treatment at a private hospital in Gweru.
According to witnesses, a six-month-old baby who was in the Honda Fit was reportedly thrown out unscathed some few meters from the accident scene.
Mahoko urged motorists to exercise caution when driving and also check the roadworthiness of their vehicles before embarking on journeys.
Dr Dhlamini, a prominent figure in the field of education, was a highly respected and accomplished academic. She held a PhD from the University of Pretoria and had over 17 years of experience as a teacher and administrator, My Zimbabwe News has reported.
Her career spanned both high school and university levels, where she served as an external examiner for Teacher Training Colleges in Zimbabwe. She was also a mentor for University of Pretoria teachers and an external thesis examiner for Rhodes University in South Africa.
Dr Dhlamini’s passion for education was evident in her diverse roles at Solusi University. She served as a lecturer, head of department, and manager of the Centre for Teaching Excellence in the Humanities Department. She was also the Dean of the Faculty of Education and Humanities and oversaw Master’s theses.
Beyond her academic achievements, Dr Dhlamini was also a respected researcher and author. She was a peer reviewer for four journals and authored the book “Multiple Intelligences and Multimodality Methods on Student Performance.” She also penned several articles on topics including “Lecturers’ Thinking Preferences Based on the Whole Brain Model” and “Learners’ Individual differences; Exploring Adventist Health Lifestyles: A Social Marketing Perspective.”
Dr Dhlamini’s loss is a profound one for Solusi University, her colleagues, and the wider educational community. Her dedication to teaching, research, and mentorship has left an indelible mark on the lives of countless students and colleagues.
This tragic incident serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of the Gweru-Kwekwe Highway. The road has been the site of numerous accidents, highlighting the need for greater safety measures and driver awareness.
As the nation mourns the loss of Dr Dhlamini and her cousin, it is crucial to remember the importance of road safety and the devastating impact that accidents can have on individuals, families, and communities.
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