Video: 44 ZCC Bus Accident Victims Laid to Rest in Botswana
In a solemn ceremony marked by grief and mourning, the 44 victims of the tragic ZCC bus accident were finally laid to rest at the Molepolole Sports Complex in Gaborone, Botswana.
The mass burial, held on Saturday, 4 May, drew scores of local residents, friends, and family members who gathered to bid farewell to their loved ones who tragically lost their lives over a month ago.
Also Read: The 45 Limpopo Easter Bus Crash Victims Repatriated To Botswana
Mass Burial Ceremony: Final Farewell for Those Lost in ZCC Bus Accident
The victims met their untimely demise in a horrific bus accident on the Mamatlakala Bridge along the R518 outside Mokopane in Limpopo on Thursday, 28 March 2024.
They were en route to the annual Easter pilgrimage to the St Engenas ZCC headquarters in Moria outside Polokwane when the bus driver lost control, leading to a fatal plunge off the bridge. Only one child miraculously survived the accident.
According to the Daily Sun, after a period of mourning and reflection, the families held memorial services for their loved ones on Friday, 3 May, seeking closure amidst their profound loss.
Subsequently, the bodies of the 44 victims were returned to the mortuary to prepare for the collective burial on Saturday.
Watch the video below;
Mass funeral of 44 Botswana nationals killed in a horrific bus accident on the Mamatlakala Bridge in Limpopo.
The deceased were on their way to Moria for a St. Engenas ZCC Easter pilgrimage. pic.twitter.com/iUWf8jSYS6
— MDN NEWS (@MDNnewss) May 4, 2024
Closure and Solace: Botswana Government Covers Costs of Funeral for 44 Victims
Addressing the sombre gathering, Botswana’s Minister of State for the Presidency, Kabo Morwaeng, expressed the nation’s collective grief, noting the unprecedented nature of the tragedy. He reassured the mourners that the government had shouldered all the expenses for the funeral arrangements, aiming to provide solace and closure to the bereaved families.
“This is unusual for us. We have managed to prepare everything for the mass burial and our government is bearing all the costs for the funeral of all 45 victims. We believe we will find solace and closure,” he said.