adminSifundiso Ndlovu Chronicle Reporter
A SEVEN-year-old boy from Sauerstown suburb in Bulawayo who allegedly started a fire that killed his two-year-old brother is traumatised by the incident to the extent that his family has moved him away from home for counselling.Keagan Peel was burnt to death on July 22, two days before his second birthday, after his elder brother dropped a lit match stick on a bed the toddler was sleeping on.
The fire gutted the room in which he was sleeping at a time when their mother was outside the house.
A family spokesperson Matthew Peel confirmed that they had taken the toddler to his aunt in Gweru for counselling as he was visibly traumatised by the incident. “The boy went with his parents to Gweru where his aunt and our pastor will counsel him as he was repeatedly apologising to his father about the death of his brother,” he said.
Peel also said they were also counselling the parents to help them come to terms with the tragedy.
The development comes after reports that Childline officials visited the family seeking to establish how the boy was coping, amid claims that they had received a report that the seven-year-old child was being blamed for his brother’s death.
Childline yesterday declined to comment on the visit.
“We cannot tell you if we visited the family or not. Even if we did visited the family we would not disclose anything to you as we always keep anything we discuss with our clients confidential,” said an official.
The mother of the boy, Mary Peel, said “some counsellors” visited her home but she did not meet them as she was away.
Phathisa Nyathi, a historian and social commentator, said the parents were right in sending the child away but added that the seven year old was too young to be counselled.
“It’s irresponsible to counsel a seven year old after such a tragedy. As far as I am concerned the parents are the ones that need counselling. They have, however, done well by sending the kid away as they are protecting him,” he said.
derick.khumalo