adminThe incident happened on Sunday at the Lezy Nine Range in Prazeni Village under Chief Vutete in Chivi.
Five Brigade’s public relations officer Captain Exesier Chibasa confirmed the incident.
Capt Chibasa identified the deceased as Prince Mudanga (12) and Mabuto Bvekwa (14). He said the seriously injured child, Takunda Mudanga (11), was taken to Silveira Hospital, where he was still admitted.
Capt Chibasa was accompanied by his colleagues from the Kwekwe based Five Brigade to pass their condolences to the Mundanga and Bvekwa families. They gave 150kg of mealie-meal, 60kg sugar, 60kg beans and 12 litres cooking oil to the bereaved families. The soldiers then addressed some villagers at Old Gato Primary to explain the dangers associated with handling firearms.
They urged the villagers not to venture into their training areas. The team later demonstrated the dangers associated with the explosives and warned the villagers not to pick any strange-looking objects when they stray into the soldiers’ training grounds.
“We appreciate these explosives are not common to most people. We urge you not to pick anything from the training grounds. These bombs can explode due to heat, including body heat so if you pick these objects they are likely to explode within a fraction of a second. We advise you to report if you notice these explosives anywhere,” said Capt Chibasa.
Chronicle caught up with the grand-parents of the children who were still trying to come to grips with the tragic incident.
In an interview, Mrs Teresa Venganai, grandmother of Prince and the seriously injured Takunda Mudanga, said her grandchildren had gone to Lezy Nine Range in search of their cattle around midday.
“I was with the children from morning till midday. Taku told me that he was going to search for our cattle at Lezy Nine Range,” she said.
Online Reporter