Five pilgrims to Bernard Mizeki birthplace die in accident

Five pilgrims, including a child, who were travelling to the birthplace of Bernard Mizeki in the Diocese of Lebombo at the weekend, have died as a result of a tragic road accident.

The following is a slightly edited excerpt of a report to the Province by the Bishop of Lebombo, the Right Revd Carlos Matsinhe:

Peace:

I regret to inform you that on Saturday afternoon, as members of the Diocese were flocking to the Bernard Mizeki Birth Place Sanctuary at Guambene in the Province of Inhambane, the front tyre of a 15-seater minibus blew out and the minibus overturned several times, killing three women and one child instantly.

The remaining passengers were all injured, four of them very severely. Later one of the four died in hospital, raising the number who died to five.

We are diligently working to bring the bodies back to Maputo, since the bus was from one of our parishes in Maputo. We are now engaging with respective family members for arrangements for the memorial and burial services, most probably for this coming Wednesday.

All of the other injured have been discharged from hospital, except one lady who is still in intensive care.

The pilgrimage event went ahead, with a turn-out of more than one thousand participants. All of the others have now arrived home safely.

Please pray for us as we give pastoral care to bereaved families.

+Carlos Lebombo

The photo displayed in links to this page is an icon of Bernard Mizeki displayed in Southwark Cathedral, London, in 2018.