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11 Zimbabwean immigrants killed in Botswana car accident

Xinhua, January 12, 2015 Adjust font size:

Eleven Zimbabwean immigrants died in a fatal road accident in central Botswana after the vehicle they were travelling in hit a tree early Monday, police confirmed on Monday.

Botswana Police spokesperson Christopher Mbulawa said in a statement all the deceased were travelling in the same vehicle when the accident occurred near the town of Palapye, about 300 km north of capital Gaborone. Seven other passengers, also believed to be Zimbabweans were admitted at Palapye primary hospital.

The police said the vehicle that was carrying 18 people including the driver veered off the road after hitting a donkey and ended up smashing against a tree on the side of the road.

Preliminary police investigations have revealed all the passengers except the driver did not have travel documents and were destined for South Africa.

Zimbabweans, fleeing economic hardships in their country often cross to neighboring Botswana to get jobs, or transit through to South Africa with travelling documents. Endi