Online Reporter
Patrick Chitumba-Midlands Bureau Chief
President Mnangagwa has declared a national disaster the accident that saw seven primary school learners being burnt beyond recognition when a commuter omnibus they were travelling in caught fire near Senga Shopping Centre in Gweru yesterday afternoon.
In a statement last night, Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Dr Martin Rushwaya said: “His Excellency the President, Dr ED Mnangagwa, this evening (yesterday) 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).
“Eleven more pupils and the driver have since been hospitalised. 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 hospitalised.
“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.”
President Mnangagwa wished the hospitalised pupils speedy recovery.
The learners are from Matongo and Stanley Primary Schools. They died in an inferno that occurred around 1pm, while they were being transported to their homes in Mtautsi, Dalsford and Nehosho suburbs.
About 23 other pupils escaped death by a whisker after they were pulled from the burning vehicle by people who were at the shops when the fire broke out.
When The Herald arrived at the scene, bodies of the deceased were being taken to Gweru Provincial Hospital mortuary.
The commuter omnibus had been reduced to a shell.
Gweru Mayor Councillor Martin Chivhoko, who was among the first people to arrive at the scene, confirmed the disaster.
“I can confirm that seven bodies of infant learners were retrieved from a commuter omnibus that caught fire in Senga today (yesterday). It’s a sad day for the people of Gweru,” he said.
Public Service Commission Midlands Provincial Coordinator, Mr Andrew Chimanyiwa, said preliminary investigations indicated that there were 23 learners in the vehicle.
“We recovered seven bodies, that is, two girls and five boys,” he said.
“What happened here is total negligence, the driver and the conductor had a 10-litre jerrycan with petrol, which they placed close to the battery after loading the children, and the vehicle exploded.”
Commissioner Patson Nyabadza, police Officer Commanding in the Midlands Province, addressed the parents and guardians gathered at Matongo Primary School.
He said, contrary to earlier reports, no child was taken to the hospital, as all those who survived had no injuries.
Comm Nyabadza asked parents to go home and visit Senga Police Station this morning to confirm with the police.
“Right now, we are consolidating the names and surnames of pupils who were in the commuter omnibus,” he said.
Ward 5 Councillor Aaron Mumvana said the learners were from Senga and Stanley Primary School and were being transported home.
“It was around lunch hour when the vehicle caught fire. Revellers and shoppers who were at the shopping centre managed to open the sliding door and take out the pupils. Unfortunately, those at the back failed to make it,” he said.
Mr Aaron Moyo, who was at the shops, said the fire consumed the commuter omnibus in less than five minutes, sending shockwaves through residents and parents in the area.
“We quickly sprang to action when we saw the vehicle on fire. We broke the windows to rescue others,” he said. “The fire was just too much as we failed to save those who were at the back. Their screams will haunt me for life.”
The tragedy has left the Gweru community in mourning the loss of the children.
