Chitungwiza Worker Dies After Freak Accident Involving Refuse Truck and Parked Kombi
A municipal worker from Chitungwiza, Simon Maketo, died on Thursday after suffering fatal injuries while collecting refuse in Manyame Park.
According to the Chitungwiza Municipality, the fatal accident happened when the refuse truck Maketo was working on, tried to swerve around a parked commuter omnibus that was blocking the road. Maketo, who was stationed on the right side of the truck, reportedly became startled during the manoeuvre.
Officials say he panicked and hit his head against a nearby precast wall. To make matters worse, he was struck again by the truck, lost his balance, and collapsed to the ground.
Emergency services rushed Maketo to St Mary’s Clinic before transferring him to Chitungwiza Central Hospital. Sadly, doctors declared him dead on arrival.
In a statement released on Friday, 1 August 2025, the Municipality confirmed the sequence of events and expressed its condolences. The incident has raised serious concerns about worker safety and the dangers posed by poorly regulated public transport obstructions.
“Preliminary reports indicate that during refuse collection, the refuse truck encountered a stationary commuter omnibus obstructing it. Mr. Maketo was positioned on the right side of the truck. As the driver attempted to manoeuvre around the obstruction, Mr. Maketo reportedly panicked, hitting his head against a precast wall before being struck again by the truck. He then lost balance and fell to the ground. He was immediately rushed to St Mary’s Clinic and later transferred to Chitungwiza Central Hospital by our municipal ambulance. Unfortunately, he was pronounced dead on arrival,” the statement reads.
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