Online Reporter
Tendai Gukutikwa
Post Reporter
A SOMBRE mood engulfed Ngomasha Village in Marange on Tuesday as mourners gathered to bid farewell to five young siblings and their neighbour, who perished in a horrific head-on collision while returning home from the Johane Marange Apostolic Church Passover gathering in Mafararikwa.
The six victims were travelling in a Toyota Corolla when it collided with a Stallion Cruise bus near Marange High School around 9pm last Sunday.
The children were returning home ahead of the reopening of schools, and were expected to sit for their mid-year examinations the following morning.
Their parents had remained at the church gathering and were scheduled to travel home a day later.
Four people, including three of the siblings, died instantly at the scene. Two others later succumbed to their injuries after they were taken to a church shrine instead of a hospital, in keeping with the church’s doctrine, which discourages members from seeking medical treatment and promotes faith-based healing.
The deceased siblings were identified as Praise Mutsikwi (12), Clive Mutsikwi (nine), Keldon Mutsikwi (nine), Tania Mutsikwi (nine), and Clayton Mutsikwi (six).
Their neighbour, Columbus Kagurabadza, who was driving the vehicle, also died in the crash.
The five children shared the same father. Three were born to one mother, while the remaining two were born to another.
Four other children survived the accident and are recovering. They include another Mutsikwi sibling, Kagurabadza’s two children, and the child of another neighbour.
When The Manica Post visited the Mutsikwi homestead on Tuesday morning, grieving relatives, friends and villagers had gathered for the burial. Police officers were also present.
Although the funeral had been scheduled for 11am, proceedings were delayed after police collected the bodies of Keldon and Tania for mandatory post-mortem examinations.
The two children had died after leaving the accident scene and had not undergone post-mortems, unlike those who died instantly.
“We will bring back the bodies in time for burial, but because these two children did not undergo post-mortem examinations like the others, we are taking them for the procedures so that we can rule out any foul play,” a police officer told mourners.
Kagurabadza was buried separately on Wednesday.
Family spokesperson, Mr Brian Mutsikwi, said the tragedy had left relatives struggling to comprehend the enormity of their loss.
He said the family had spent more than two weeks at the Passover gathering before deciding to send the children home on Sunday so they could prepare for school.
“We are struggling to come to terms with a tragedy of this magnitude. We had been attending the church’s Passover gathering from July 1 to July 17. On Sunday night, the late Kagurabadza offered to drive six of our children home. He was travelling with his own two children and another neighbour’s child. All the children were under the age of 13.
“The idea was to get them home in time to rest and report for their mid-year examinations the following morning,” said Mr Mutsikwi.
Mr Mutsikwi said he received a call shortly after 10pm informing him of the accident.
“I rushed to the scene, and found the Toyota Corolla trapped underneath the bus. The vehicle had reportedly been dragged for nearly 60 metres. We were informed that the bus encroached into the lane of the oncoming car, resulting in a deadly head-on collision. When I arrived, some of the children had already died, while others were crying out for help.
“We focused on rescuing those who were still alive and finding transport to assist them. Sadly, two more children later succumbed to their injuries. We have lost five children from one family. The pain is beyond words,” he said.
He added that the family was also facing financial difficulties after exhausting its savings during the extended church gathering.
“We had already used most of our savings during the Passover gathering. The community has stood by us during this difficult period, but we would appreciate any assistance from well-wishers as we lay our loved ones to rest,” he said.
Village head, Mr Happy Shundure, described the tragedy as one of the darkest moments in the history of the community.
“We have lost five children from one household and a neighbour who was driving them home. This is a painful loss for the entire village because these children belonged to all of us.
“They were returning from the church Passover and trying to get home in time for school and examinations,” he said.
Mr Shundure said the injured victims were initially taken to a church shrine in line with church teachings.
“Unfortunately, Keldon and Tania later died while at the shrine. That is why they had not undergone post-mortem examinations together with the others, and why the burial had to be delayed for the police to complete the required procedures,” he said.
He added that police intervened after realising the two victims had not been examined.
“The bodies had already been brought home and burial preparations were underway when police insisted that post-mortem examinations were necessary before burial.
“They assured us the bodies would be returned promptly because it is considered a taboo for a grave to remain open overnight. They kept their word, and the children were buried later that afternoon.”
Shundure Primary School SDC vice-chairperson, Mr Samuel Tauzeni, said the deaths had deeply affected learners, teachers and parents.
“This is an extremely painful loss for both our school and the wider community. Five learners from Shundure Primary School lost their lives in an accident while rushing home to prepare for their examinations.
“They were eager to resume their studies after weeks away from school. Losing so many learners at once is heartbreaking and unprecedented,” he said.
A neighbour, Mrs Keresina Changa, struggled to hold back tears as she remembered the young victims.
“They were wonderful children who often helped me with household chores and worked in my garden during their free time. They were respectful, hardworking and always cheerful.
“When I heard about the accident, I was shattered. It feels as though a part of me has been taken away because I loved them and they loved me too. We cannot question God’s will, but the pain is overwhelming. These were not just their family’s children; they were our children too,” she said.
