BULAWAYO - Production designer Blessing Masora last week escaped death by a whisker after she was hit by a commuter omnibus in Mpopoma.
Masora, 27, who has been active in the arts industry for over a decade was discharged from hospital after spending almost two weeks fighting for her life.
The Amakhosi Academy graduate, who is still unable to walk properly, narrated how she narrowly escaped death.
“I was coming from a funeral with my church mates when the driver of the kombi (Qhubani Ndlovu), 38, went off route in search of passengers,” she told the Daily News.
“However, he approached a blind corner and realised there was a bus, so to avoid ramming into the bus, he swerved and hit me,” she said.
Masora added that she immediately confronted the kombi driver while at the accident scene.
“I remember the driver was so arrogant that I became so furious. I then realised that I was bleeding from the mouth and the next thing I found myself lying helplessly on a hospital bed the following morning,” she said.
She suffered serious head, neck and left arm injuries. She also had bruised muscle tissue as well as internal injuries.
“I was admitted at Mater Dei hospital. While I am happy that I am slowly recovering what pains me is that I won’t be able to do anything productive to fend for myself and family for the next 10 weeks since the doctor has advised me against doing any heavy stuff,” she said.
Masora, who turned 27 recently, was forced to receive birthday gifts while on her hospital bed.
“It wasn’t good to receive birthday messages and gifts while in such a condition,” she said.
The driver was apprehended by passers-by and immediately arrested.
He was this week convicted on charges of negligent driving and sentenced to perform 315 hours of community service by Western Commonage magistrate Themba Chimiso. He had his driving licence cancelled for life.
While Masora is satisfied with the ruling by the courts, she feels the law should also be there to force public transport owners to compensate accident victims.
Considering what she is currently going through as a result of the accident, the owner of the kombi has refused to cooperate. Moreover, the vehicle is already back on the road with a new driver.
“The kombi owner Sandra Nyambodza, who is said to be a police officer and has 19 more kombis registered in different names, is telling us stories and hiding behind other faces. Now I can’t get compensation for the medical expenses I have incurred and for the inconvenience that I have been subjected to,” she said.
Masora said if the owner continues behaving in that manner she will be left with no choice but to sue her.