Online Reporter
Patrick Chitumba, Midlands Bureau Chief
THE Government has activated civil protection protocols to support families of the seven pupils who were burnt to death in a commuter omnibus fire in Gweru on Wednesday, as efforts intensify to identify the victims through DNA testing.
Parents and guardians of the deceased learners gathered at Gweru Central Police Station on Thursday, where a one-stop centre has been established to assist relatives with documentation and other support services.
Mothers of the deceased children had DNA samples collected by Criminal Investigations Department (CID) forensic experts. The samples will be sent to Harare together with those collected from the burnt bodies for profiling to facilitate positive identification of the victims.
The seven pupils, who attended Senga Primary School, were burnt beyond recognition when the commuter omnibus they were travelling in caught fire near Chirandu Shops in Senga suburb at around 1pm while transporting them home to Mtautsi, Dalesford and Nehosho suburbs.
President Mnangagwa has since declared the tragedy a national disaster.
Gweru District Development Coordinator Mr Tarisai Mudadigwa said Government had deployed a multi-agency response team to provide immediate social support to the affected families and schools.
“We have activated the Civil Protection Committee to coordinate social support. Our teams went to Matongo and Senga Primary Schools to offer counselling to the children and to help parents recover from the trauma,” said Mr Mudadigwa.
He said Government, working with partners, was mobilising food and other necessities for the bereaved families.
“We are facilitating DNA testing to ensure that identification of the bodies is done as a matter of urgency. Doves Funeral Services are already on the ground assisting families,” he said.
Mr Mudadigwa said Gweru City Council had also offered free burial space for families who wish to bury their children in the city.
The tragedy has left families, fellow pupils and the wider Gweru community in mourning, with authorities continuing to provide counselling and other support services as investigations into the incident continue.
