Online Reporter
Patrick Chitumba, [email protected]
The Gweru kombi fire accident which claimed the lives of seven primary school pupils, has prompted Government to craft a new law aimed at ending public transporters’ dangerous practice of overloading schoolchildren.
Primary and Secondary Education Minister Torerayi Moyo announced the proposed legislation on Wednesday during an emotional send-off ceremony for the learners from Senga and Matongo primary schools who perished in last week’s horrific accident.
The tragedy occurred when a jerry can containing approximately nine litres of petrol, carried by the conductor, exploded inside the vehicle. Only charred remains were recovered from the burnt-out kombi and DNA tests had to be conducted to identify the victims.
The ceremony, held at Gweru Sports Club, was attended by First Lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa, who was the chief mourner, alongside grieving families, Government officials, teachers and members of the public.
Minister Moyo said the tragedy had exposed serious gaps in the regulation of learner transportation and emphasised the urgent need for stronger safety measures.
“This tragedy compels us to strengthen measures to safeguard our learners. Through a Whole-of-Government Approach involving the Ministry of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage, the Zimbabwe Republic Police, the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development, local authorities and other stakeholders, we are introducing enhanced policies and regulatory measures to improve the safety, oversight and accountability of learner transportation across the country,” he said.
Minister Moyo said Government was now working on legislation that would set clear limits on the number of learners allowed in vehicles used for school transport and impose tougher penalties on operators who disregard safety regulations.
The proposed measures will also include enhanced monitoring of vehicles carrying learners, strict enforcement of certificates of fitness, verification of insurance compliance, routine vehicle inspections and rigorous action against overloading.
Particular attention, Minister Moyo said, would be paid to ensuring that vehicles transporting learners do not carry hazardous goods alongside passengers.
“The safety of our learners is not negotiable. Every child has the right to travel to and from school in a safe, secure and properly regulated environment,” he said.
“As the Government, we owe it to the memory of the young lives we have lost to ensure that meaningful reforms emerge from this tragedy and that lessons learned translate into stronger protection for all learners across Zimbabwe.”
Minister Moyo urged schools that own buses to work closely with parents and communities to develop sustainable transport arrangements that prioritise learner safety and reduce dependence on unsuitable public transport.
He revealed that there were 32 pupils on board the commuter omnibus at the time of the accident. Twenty-five survived, most with minor injuries, and are receiving psychosocial support.
The pupils killed in the fire accident were Alisha Loyo (Grade One Green, Matongo Primary School), Peter Tambo (ECD A, Matongo Primary School), Maengamhuru Thabo (Grade One Red, Matongo Primary School), Kith Makarange (ECD A, Matongo Primary School), Anotida Mawere (Grade Two Yellow, Matongo Primary School), Faith Jangara (ECD B, Senga Primary School) and Junior Albert Muchenamakumbo (ECD B, Senga Primary School).
Minister Moyo expressed gratitude to President Mnangagwa for declaring the tragedy a State of Disaster and granting State-assisted funerals to the bereaved families.
He said Government had also mobilised psychologists, counsellors, schools, churches and health professionals to provide psychosocial support to survivors and grieving families.
“We have deployed teams of psychologists from various provinces to strengthen these interventions, recognising that emotional healing requires sustained care and support,” said Minister Moyo..
The tragedy has reignited debate over the safety of learners that use public transport in Zimbabwe, with parents and education stakeholders calling for stricter enforcement of traffic laws and greater investment in dedicated school transport systems.
