Welcome to the Evolving Man Project’s “Evolved Man of the Week” profile. Each week we will highlight an individual that embodies what it means to be an evolved person, famous and non-famous individuals alike. The world needs to know their stories and deeds. This week’s honor goes to Zimbawae native and truck driver Sirizani Butau.
At the tail end of the 2021, holiday season a local man was hailed as a hero. His name was Sirizani Butau, who risked his life to save at least eight people from a bus that caught fire along the Harare-Mutare Highway on Christmas eve.
An unconfirmed number of people were burnt beyond recognition when a traveling bus collided with a fuel tanker in the country’s Manicaland province. The bus belonging to Beta Private Limited is said to have collided with a fuel tanker, which burst into flames, and people were burnt beyond recognition.
Mr. Butau, a truck driver who wasn’t involved in the accident, assisted several people involved in the deadly crash. He risked his life to rescue nearly a dozen people from the burning bus. He even tried to save his colleague, the tanker driver.
Butau was admitted to the Kadoma Hospital after suffering third-degree burns. He went out of his way to save accident victims who would otherwise have been burnt to death in the inferno that engulfed the bus and the fuel tanker.
Social media celebrated the heroics of Butau, whose enduring image while standing on the tarmac with visible burns inspired many to raise money for his medical and upkeep bills.
Butau’s brother Trevor told NewsDay that his brother was overwhelmed by the love of Zimbabweans. Mr. Butau’s quick thinking saved the lives of eight people that day.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s spokesperson George Charamba wrote:
“The President recognizes Cde Butau for heroically putting his own life at risk to save traffic accident victims who could have been burnt in a conflagration when a bus and a fuel tanker collided. He promised national recognition,” Charamba said.
Many have called on the government to consider giving Butau a diplomatic passport and meeting his medical expenses.
Here is Sirizani Butau in his own words about his heroic deeds:
I am humbled by the response. It is something that I never expected. My preoccupation on the day was to help, and unfortunately got injured in the process, but I am doing well.”
We are the Evolving Man Project wish Mr. Sirizani Butau a speedy recovery and appreciate his heroics that saved many lives during this holiday tragedy in the African nation of Zimbabwe. Today we honor Sirizani Batau as our Evolved Man of the Week.
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