Online Reporter
Patrick Chitumba, [email protected]
OFFICER Commanding Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) Midlands Province, Commissioner Patson Nyabadza, has called for patience as investigations continue over the commuter omnibus inferno that claimed the lives of seven pupils at Matongo Primary School in Senga suburb, Gweru on Wednesday.
The victims, comprising two boys and five girls, were among pupils travelling in the vehicle when the tragedy occurred. Police were still in the process of verifying the identities of the deceased at the time of writing.
Commissioner Nyabadza urged parents and guardians to remain calm and allow police to complete the identification process before releasing official information.
“Right now we are consolidating names and surnames of pupils who were in the commuter omnibus. We will have full facts by tomorrow morning,” he said.
He advised parents who had gathered at the school and surrounding areas seeking information about their children to return home and report to Senga Police Station on Thursday morning, where police would provide verified details.
Contrary to earlier reports, Commissioner Nyabadza said no child had been taken to hospital following the incident.
The driver of the commuter omnibus and his conductor, however, sustained injuries and were admitted to hospital for treatment.
According to reports, when the kombi left the school it had 21 pupils, mostly those doing Early Childhood Development.
It reportedly caught fire near Senga Shopping Centre, with members of the public rushing to the aid of the pupils, serve for the seven who unfortunately succumbed to the burns.
Police and other Government officials were at the scene throughout the day as investigations into the circumstances surrounding the fire continued.
Earlier reports indicated that the vehicle caught fire shortly after pupils had boarded it near Matongo Primary School.
Authorities are expected to release a comprehensive report once all the victims have been positively identified and their families formally notified.
More details are expected to emerge as investigations continue.
I am not surprised by this tragic accident. Just look at the condition of the Kombis on our roads, how they are driven and how they pass through police check points. Truth be told, only 20% of Kombis and mushikashika in this country are roadworthy. Parents are also to blame. They know the dangerous conditions Kombis that carry their children are but continue to use them.