Zimbabwe: President Condoles Maputo

27 May 2002
The Herald (Harare)
By Herald Reporter

PRESIDENT Mugabe yesterday sent a condolence message to Mozambican President Joaquim Chissano, following the death of more than 200 people in a train crash on Saturday.

"I have learnt with deep shock and grief of the railway accident near Tenga, outside Maputo, on 25 May 2002, in which over 200 people lost their lives and many others were injured," the President said.

"On behalf of the Government and people of Zimbabwe, as well as on my own behalf, I extend to Your Excellency, and through you to the bereaved families, the Government and people of Mozambique, our sincere and heartfelt condolences over this tragic accident.

"We pray that our Mozambican brothers and sisters will recover soon from the trauma of this disaster," he said.

The accident occurred when a train travelling along the Maputo-Ressamo Gracia railway line which links Mozambique and South Africa, reportedly failed to scale a steep hill, resulting in the crash.

More than 400 other passengers were injured.

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