KEY POINTS
- Garwe says Civil Protection moved quickly.
- He blames Chitungwiza for the poor response.
- The Seke Road crash claimed 17 lives.
Local Government Minister Daniel Garwe has rejected criticism over the government’s response to a road crash that killed 17 people last week, insisting that emergency services acted swiftly.
The accident, which happened along Seke Road near Chitungwiza, involved a haulage truck veering into a minibus. Eyewitnesses say victims died at the scene due to a lack of rescue equipment, particularly a crane.
Civil Protection Department did not delay, Garwe says
Garwe told lawmakers that the Civil Protection Department acted immediately once informed. He emphasised that response time hinged on how the incident was reported and what details were available.
“You cannot say we failed to respond on time. It depends on when the report came,” Garwe said in Parliament. “If someone simply said there was an accident on Chitungwiza Road, that makes it difficult to dispatch the right equipment fast.”
Despite criticism from opposition leaders, including Nelson Chamisa, Garwe defended the department’s performance.
Garwe says Chitungwiza failed Seke Road victims
Garwe pointed fingers at the Chitungwiza Municipality, accusing it of a slow reaction. He noted that all 92 local authorities had been given fire tenders to handle emergencies.
“Why didn’t the Chitungwiza council react quickly?” Garwe asked. “We expect them to be the first responders. Civil Protection was first on the scene, and Harare fire tenders were activated from there.”
According to New Zimbabwe, the minister called for a review of Chitungwiza’s response and urged council officials to explain the delay.
The Seke Road crash has ignited fresh concerns about Zimbabwe’s emergency response infrastructure, especially in urban centres.
