via Falls train crash victims demand answers 07 July 2014
FOREIGN tourists injured when a goods train crashed into a tram at the country’s prime Victoria Falls resort have demanded answers over the accident which resulted in one fatality.
There were 34 tourists and crew members on board the tram which is operated by The Victoria Falls Steam Train Company when the accident occurred last Tuesday evening. These included the wedding party of Australian businessman Peter Holmes a Court.
The wedding party was reportedly heading to Maun in Botswana for the ceremony. The couple was forced to postpone the nuptials after the accident.
Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) officials said 20 tourists were injured, two of them seriously. Two of the seriously wounded were airlifted to South Africa where one of them succumbed to the injuries.
Peter Holmes a Court said he was “very shaken and saddened” by the accident.
“Our tourist tram was hit by a freight train as it was approaching a sort of shunting yard,’ Paul Holmes a Court told The Australian.
A friend of the groom added: “We don’t really know much more than what’s been reported. We’re waiting to get more details and to find out how we can help.”
“We can never fully forgive those responsible and will go out of our way to warn our friends and loved ones to stay away from such corrupt places as Zimbabwe,” he was quoted as saying.
“There was no warning, no horn blast, and the tram operator cowardly jumped seconds before impact. Any small effort may have made a difference. Our hearts break from the tragic loss of such a great man.”
“We have never witnessed such an accident before in our prime resort town and we would like to assure the travelling public and our visitors that this was an isolated incident.
“Much as this was a gruelling experience, it is a lesson learnt and we will ensure that our systems are well prepared for such eventualities in future,” the organisation said.
COMMENTS
The whole f*&%^%$king zimbabwe is an accident.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ZANU management in action
Always excused from the bufoon management team
correction:
Always excuses from the bufoon management team
That’s how it is in Africa. Place is run by morons.
you are 100% right
Would have been interesting to compound the problem by seeking treatment at the local hospital.
Ha ha…. Imagine a tourist being given an aspirin for a broken arm!
all so sad, level crossings not maintained etc etc etc, something like this was inevitable..
Zimbabwe’s railways are notoriously dangerous, with ageing despot Robert Mugabe having brought the country’s economy to its knees and unable to pay for improvements. The accident is the third involving National Railways of Zimbabwe in the space of a week.
The National Railways of Zimbabwe spokesman declined to comment on whether legal action had been launched against it following the crash.