Pastor and church elder die in Kilimanjaro road collision
What you need to know:
- The vehicle carried seven occupants. In addition to the two fatalities, five others were injured. Among the injured were a woman with her two children and two girls from an orphanage.
Kilimanjaro. A tragic road accident in Kilimanjaro has claimed the lives of two individuals, including Pastor Kantate Munis of the Kimashuku Parish, North Diocese of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Tanzania (ELCT).
The collision occurred on Sunday, August 4, 2024, when Pastor Munis' vehicle collided with a passenger bus.
According to Kilimanjaro Regional Police Commander Simon Maigwa, the accident happened in the Kimashuku area, Mnadani Ward, Hai District. The incident took place as Pastor Munis was crossing the road to enter his church and was struck by the oncoming bus.
The deceased have been identified as Pastor Kantate Munis (42) and Laban Kweka (50), a church elder, who both died at the scene.
“The accident involved a small vehicle and a passenger bus traveling from Dodoma to Moshi. Upon reaching Kimashuku, the bus collided with the smaller vehicle, resulting in two fatalities and several injuries,” said Mr Maigwa.
Pastor Dominick Mushi, the assistant to the Bishop of the Hai Diocese of the ELCT, shared details about the incident. “Pastor Munis had just attended a regional singing event in Bomang'ombe and was heading back to his parish in Kimashuku when the accident occurred.”
Pastor Mushi described the severity of the collision, stating that the bus, which was overtaking other vehicles, struck Pastor Munis' vehicle on the side.
“The impact caused the vehicle to spin and crash into trees. Those in the front seats, including Pastor Munis and the church elder, sustained severe injuries and unfortunately, both died at the scene.”
The vehicle carried seven occupants. In addition to the two fatalities, five others were injured. Among the injured were a woman with her two children and two girls from an orphanage.
The woman and her children were taken to Mawenzi Hospital, while the two orphan girls were admitted to Hai District Hospital.
The bodies of Pastor Munis and the church elder have been taken to KCMC Referral Hospital and Hai District Hospital, respectively, awaiting funeral arrangements.
