Online Reporter
IT has been a very sad few months for the Chinhoyi University of Technology community.
Another student died at the weekend from wounds sustained in a road accident in Chiredzi.
The tragic accident came just a few days after Panashe Mwinga died in a car crash while travelling to Harare after her graduation.
Maclarian Chando, affectionately known as DJ Killers, was a Level 3:1 student who was studying Information Technology.
Fellow students say Mclarian was a larger-than-life character, who loved his music, and was quite a popular fellow at the university.
CUT Student Representative Council Minister of External Affairs, Information and Publicity , Malvin Saint Madanda, said Mclarian was a bright young man with a remarkable spirit , a passion for music and a future full of promise.
Despite being transferred to Parirenyatwa hospital for critical medical care, he sadly lost his life.
Madanda said Mclarian’s presence was felt in every corner, not just in the classrooms but in the hearts of those he shared conversations, laughter and dreams with.
He said his tragic death was a devastating loss not only to his family and close friends, but to all those who had the privilege of knowing and studying alongside him.
A student at the university described Mclarian as a cheerful person who inspired other students with his infectious smile and with his music.
Mclarian is the fifth student at CUT to die in the last nine months in tragic circumstances.
He is one of three students who have died in an accident.
Two other students took their lives just a few weeks ago.
Mwinga, described by colleagues as a very intelligent young woman, died in a road accident on Thursday, just hours after she graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Visual and Communication Multimedia.
The tragedy happened near the Gwebi River as the family was driving to Harare from Chinhoyi.
Mwinga’s father, an engineer, was seriously injured in the crash.
We can only imagine the impact which all these deaths have had on the CUT community, especially among the students who have lost a number of their colleagues in recent months.
We understand that this is a very difficult period for CUT as the lecturers have also been affected by these tragedies.
There is nothing that the authorities at CUT could have done to help their students avoid the accidents which claimed their lives.
Sometimes, it’s just fate which strikes and, as human beings, we are powerless to do anything to stop it. CUT is a very good university and it has produced some brilliant individuals who have gone on to make a huge impact in this country.
It’s just a bad and sad phase for the university and we hope its leadership, its lecturers and the students will be strong enough to ensure they can navigate this very difficult phase.
