MUTARE – A student from Nyangani High School in Nyanga was killed and 15 others were injured after their minibus overturned near Selborne, Makoni district, as they travelled to Mutasa for a youth event called by President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Thursday.
National police spokesman Commissioner Paul Nyathi said the driver of the Toyota Hiace lost control and the vehicle overturned before landing on its side at the 62km peg on the Mutare-Juliasdale Road which has steep slopes on the sides.
“The body of the victim is at Bonda Mission Hospital while the injured are admitted at the same hospital and Victoria Chitepo Provincial Hospital in Mutare,” Nyathi said.
Some parents have complained that they were not informed about the trip, ZimLive has heard.
The youth ministry led by Tinoda Machakaire had set a target of gathering 10,000 youths from across the country at Magamba Vocational Youth Training Centre in Mutasa district for what was dubbed a “Youth Empowerment Forum.”
Many schools were commanded to send learners to the event.
Writing on X ahead of the event, Mnangagwa said he was going to “engage with our young leaders on new business opportunities” and he would be “commissioning key projects and handing over 53 motorbikes to boost youth outreach.”
The youths, including school children, were made to chant Zanu PF slogans.
