Tragic Accident Ends Couple’s 4-Month Marriage

A fatal road accident that occurred along the Harare-Chirundu Highway on Thursday killed a young couple, which was four months into their marriage, it has been gathered.

The couple was among six people who perished on the spot during the road traffic accident at the 214km peg along the Harare-Chirundu Highway, at an area that has become a black spot.

They were identified as Kelvin Chimombe (26) and Charmaine Tembo (18), who got married in January this year.

Tembo grew up in Chirundu with her sister Melisa Ushemakota.

Ushemakota confirmed that her late sister grew up in Chirundu, where she stayed before she got married.

“I raised her as my sister and she was a hairdresser in a local saloon,” she said in a telephone interview.

“Our mothers are sisters, so she was close to me. I am deeply saddened by her death.”

Ushemakota revealed that the couple was going to Murombedzi in Zvimba district.

“They were going to a memorial service for Kelvin’s uncle,” she said.

“We never anticipated that their journey was literally the end of a blossoming marriage of young couple just four months into their marriage.

“They were snatched from us all. I am at loss of words.”

Burial arrangements for the couple are still underway, with families meeting to pave a way forward.

The newly married couple met their fate near Magunje turn-off, popularly known as Chinyerere.

Primary investigations revealed that they were in a small vehicle that was involved in a head-on collision with a haulage truck. Chimombe was born and raised in the Mahombekombe high-density suburb, Kariba, before he moved to Chirundu, where he was employed at a sport betting company.

“The couple was newly married and met their fate along the Harare-Chirundu Highway, a road that has become a death trap for travellers,” said Pearson Makaka of Nyamakate.

“It’s devastating to lose such a young couple in road traffic accident.”

Ironically, Chimombe on Sunday played a match as a goalkeeper for his social soccer team, Border Pirates, based in Chirundu.

According to some of his friends, Chimombe was always jovial and motivated other players.

“He was at the goal post during our friendly match on Sunday,” a teammate said.

“It is devastating to hear that he was killed in the road traffic accident.”

It is understood that three other family members also lost their lives in the same accident.

They were heading to Karoi for the Easter church service before they met their fate.

Although information was sketchy at the time of going to print last night, they were passengers in the small vehicle.

The Zimbabwe Republic Police confirmed the accident, which occurred in the mid-morning of April 17 at the 214 km peg along the road, which claimed the lives of six people.

According to the police, a haulage truck with no passengers on board was involved in a head-on collision with a Nissan NV-150 vehicle with five passengers on board.

“The bodies of the victims were taken to Karoi Hospital mortuary for post-mortem. More details will be released in due course,” the police said in a statement. NewsDay