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Authorities at Eveline Girls School in Bulawayo must get to the bottom of the fire incidents reported to have occurred at the school at the weekend.
The school authorities must work with the relevant stakeholders such as the police to establish the cause of the fires to protect life and property.
A number of girls at the school are said to have been wounded when a dormitory was allegedly set on fire by a Form Three pupil on Sunday afternoon. It is alleged that the pupil set Langdon Hostel on fire twice on Sunday. We urge the school to heed the advice of the Bulawayo Chief Fire
Officer Mr Richard Peterson whose workers were twice called to the school on the day of the incident to extinguish the fires.
Mr Peterson said the Fire Brigade had told the school to work with police to identify the culprit who started the fires.
Since there are conflicting reports of what might have caused the fire, a comprehensive probe is necessary to avoid such mishaps recurring in the future.
Other reports suggest the concerned pupil left something on in the ironing room where there is a television set for pupils, according to Bulawayo provincial education director, Mr Dan Moyo.
It is important for institutions such as schools where there are people who include teachers, other school workers and pupils as well as property to safeguard against such incidents.
When parents send their children to school they must be assured that they are safe and also in safe hands.
We commend the Fire Brigade for arranging with the school to educate pupils about the dangers of starting fires.
Mr Peterson said the fires could have been fatal if they had spread to the ceiling, which necessitates such an awareness meeting with the pupils.
It is also the duty of parents to teach their children about the dangers of fires and tampering with electrical systems or gadgets.
The girl suspected to have started the fires is said to be temperamental. It is obvious she needs help and counselling to manage her anger. She must be taken for anger management lessons because she will be a danger to her family, herself, other pupils, school staff and property.
If it is true that the father of the girl said his daughter’s disappearance from the dormitory was good riddance because she was a problem child, it also means he needs help to be able to assist his daughter.
Parents should worry about the behaviour of their children because they do not affect their families only but whole communities and societies.
Crimes of passion have been on the increase in Zimbabwe with men and women killing themselves, their children or relatives of their partners to settle scores arising from domestic disputes.
As a country we should be concerned about such trends because we are losing lives in cases in which solutions can be found.
In this case it is a young person who was allegedly incensed by something and thought of hitting back in a dangerous way.
Families, churches, educational institutions, counsellors, law enforcement agents and social workers are required in such circumstances to help teach people that revenge does not solve anything no matter how deeply one have been wronged.
Families should always teach their children the sanctity of life.
We, however, commend Eveline Girls High School for having a working fire alarm because such a precautionary measure is crucial to saving lives and property in the event of a fire break out.
Online Reporter