daniel chigunwe
Arron Nyamayaro
TWO children, aged six and seven, suffocated in a parked car on Sunday while their guardian was attending a church service in Ruwa.
Partson Gukwe and Tanyaradzwa Hlasela were found dead in a parked red Honda Fit at Redemption International Church located in the Damofalls Industrial Area.
The two boys were driven to the church by Paul Hlasela Makechemu, 57.
They joined other Sunday School children and later returned to their car where they were found dead.
Partson’s parents stay at Paul’s house while Tanyaradzwa’s parents stay in Chitungwiza.
The vehicle was yet to be registered.
How the children managed to unlock the vehicle after attending their Sunday School service but then failed to unlock it, when they suffocated, remains a mystery.
Harare provincial police spokesperson, Inspector Luckmore Chakanza, confirmed the case.
“Police are investigating a sudden death by suffocation case in Ruwa involving two minor children,” said Insp Chakanza.
“On September 29, 2024, at around 0900hrs, the informant, his wife, her daughter, and the now two deceased juveniles left home for a church service in Damafalls.
“The informant drove an unregistered Honda Fit with temporal registration plates ZW 21095A.
“Upon arrival at the church, the family disembarked and the two juveniles proceeded for Sunday School behind the church building while the elders got inside the church building.
“Later, at around 1500hrs when the church service ended, the elders went to the vehicle where they noticed that the two juveniles were lying lifeless, seated in the back seat of the vehicle.
“They rushed the juveniles to a private medical centre in Damafalls Phase 4, Ruwa, where they were pronounced dead,” said Insp Chakanza.
Online Reporter