Pupil falls to death on exam eve

Mpumelelo Nyoni Chronicle Reporter
A GRADE Seven pupil died at Mpilo Central Hospital in Bulawayo yesterday on the eve of his first public examinations after he fell and hit his head on concrete steps.
Tafara Zvimbvatu, 12, of Pumula South suburb, fell to his death when his mother who was carrying him down a flight of stairs to get an X-ray slipped. The boy, who would have been writing his first examination at Ngwalongwalo Primary School, was admitted to the hospital on Sunday morning after vomiting and complaining of stomach pains.

His father, Collen Zvimbvatu, said the incident occurred at about 10AM.
He blamed the hospital’s administration for his son’s death.

“All I can say is that I’m disappointed by the attitude of the administration at Mpilo Central Hospital. I’m demanding answers because how on earth could they’ve made my wife carry him. Where was the hospital staff when my wife was made to carry him alone,” asked Zvimbvatu.
He added that Tafara’s condition deteriorated while at the hospital and he had to alert hospital staff when his stomach started swelling.

Similo Zvimbvatu nee Dube, the boy’s mother, told Chronicle that she was made to carry Tafara on her back and that his drip was not suspended when she slipped.
“At around 10AM this morning, I was told to take him downstairs for a scan as the elevator is broken. As I was climbing down the stairs, I slipped and fell on my knees and Tafara hit his head on the steps. They tried to put him in the resuscitation room but my boy was already gone,” she said.

Similo also told Chronicle that hospital staff refused to attend to her son even as he was vomiting on Sunday night. She was also made to mop up the vomit as the cleaning staff was said to be unavailable.

Ngwalongwalo headmaster, Keyi Moyo, expressed shock, saying Tafara’s death had robbed the school of a bright young boy.
“I’m in so much shock at the moment because on Friday, Tafara was fit and healthy. He was a bright young boy and we were expecting at least four to eight points from him after his examinations,” he said.

Lawrence Mantiziba, Mpilo Central Hospital chief executive officer, said he was not aware of the incident and promised to call back after checking up on the issue.
He had not called by the time of going to press.