Boy (5) survives blast

explosive blast that blew off his four fingers and caused serious burns in his chest and face.
According to police records, it is alleged that on April 13, around 2:30 pm in Mathaweni village under Chief Gampu, three brothers, Mcini (16), Goodwin (6) and Goodnews (5) Moyo were taking a stroll outside their father’s homestead, Mr Themba Moyo.
It is said the trio came across a blasting detonator and Mcini picked it up and went home with it. The three brothers went into the kitchen hut were Mcini is said to have thrown the unidentified explosive into the fire. However, sensing danger, Goodwin is said to have immediately withdrew the explosive from the fire and threw it outside the kitchen hut.
After a few minutes, the younger brother, Goodnews went out of the hut and picked up the explosive which detonated.
Matabeleland North police spokesperson, Inspector Trust Ndlovu, confirmed the incident saying investigations were underway to determine the origins of the blasting detonator.
“The boy seems to be in a stable condition at the moment. Our units are on the ground as there is need for us to determine if this was a grenade or a dynamite because when we arrived at the scene, someone had tempered with remnants from the blast,” said Insp Moyo.
After the explosion, the boy’s father is said to have rushed outside his bedroom hut and saw his son lying in a pool of blood.
A police report was made at a nearby police base and Goodnews was taken to Tsholotsho hospital, where he was later referred to Mpilo Hospital because of the serious burns he had sustained.
Insp Moyo said the boy lost four fingers on his right hand and was only left with the ring finger.
Goodnews sustained serious burns from his torso up to his face.
Insp Moyo said they were still waiting for a doctor’s report to get more detailed information about the nature of the explosive.
“We are very concerned about the incident because there might be someone in the area who might be in possession of these dangerous weapons which he might be using for his or her personal uses in activities such as illegal mining,” he said.
Cases of ammunition, grenades and explosives being discovered in Matabeleland North province are very rare but late last year a crack team in the Support Unit discovered a trunk with 550 AK47 bullets buried in a field in Matabeleland South. The crack team concluded that the bullets might have been stashed during the colonial era.