Online Reporter
Patrick Chitumba, [email protected]
PRESIDENT Mnangagwa has declared the fatal commuter omnibus inferno that claimed the lives of seven children in Senga suburb in Gweru on Wednesday a national disaster.
The school children were burnt to death when a commuter omnibus they were travelling in caught fire near Senga Shopping center in the suburb.
In a statement, Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet, Dr Martin Rushwaya, said the declaration of the accident as a national disaster enables Government to mobilise resources and provide immediate assistance to the bereaved families as well as those injured in the tragedy.
“His Excellency the President, Dr ED Mnangagwa, this evening was briefed about the tragic accident in which seven pupils perished in an inferno when a commuter omnibus they were travelling on caught fire at the Gweru suburb of Senga today (yesterday),” he said.
Dr Rushwaya said 11 more pupils and the driver were taken for medical attention.
He added that the Government will work closely with relevant stakeholders to ensure that affected families receive the necessary support during this difficult period.
” In expressing his deepest, heartfelt condolences to the affected families, His Excellency the President has directed that this grisly accident be declared a National Disaster to allow government room to move in and mobilise resources for immediate assistance to the bereaved families and all those hospitalized, ” he said.
Dr Rushwaya said President Mnangagwa has once again urged all road users to exercise maximum caution and adhere to traffic regulations, warning that the country has witnessed a worrying rise in fatal road accidents over the past 30 days.
“His Excellency the President has again appealed to all road users to exercise maximum caution on the roads to avoid more such tragic accidents, which have recurred with disturbing frequency in the last 30 days,” he said.
Dr Rushwaya said President Mnangagwa expressed his condolences to the bereaved families and wished a speedy recovery to those receiving treatment.
This accident is a clear example of people defying the pleas coming from the highest office in the land. It’s only God now who must speak to these people. This tragedy is a woven tapestry of how cheap life has become. From parents, communities, police, individuals and institutions, the interest is now on how best one can make money. One can see the type of neglect that has been put on life. Recently there was another Kombi that was caught ferrying over forty little children and all that was done was talk about it. What is happening in this country? Where are our leaders? Why do they like talking about what is supposed to be done? Why can’t they just do it?