Bongani Ndlovu
Patrick Chitumba, Midlands Bureau
WHEN Mrs Siphiwe Karingira awoke on Wednesday morning, in Gweru she could not shake off a troubling dream.
Throughout the night, she had repeatedly dreamt that she was tilling a maize field.
Disturbed by the dream, she shared it with her friend, Ms Nokuthula Ngwenya, as the two prepared to go about their day.
What neither woman knew was that within hours they would receive news that would forever alter their lives.
Mrs Karingira’s child, Albert Chenamikumbi, and Ms Ngwenya’s daughter, Alisha Loyo, (both six years old) would be among the seven pupils who perished in the commuter omnibus inferno near Matongo Primary School in Senga suburb, Gweru.
“On Tuesday night going into Wednesday morning, I kept dreaming as if I was in a field, ploughing maize repeatedly. In the morning I told Mai Amanda (Ms Ngwenya) about it,” said Mrs Karingira, when speaking to the media on Thursday.
Mrs Karingira and Ms Ngwenya are some of the parents of the children who died in the inferno when a commuter omnibus they were travelling in caught fire around 1pm.
The parents and guardians are at Gweru Central Police station where the police and other government departments are assisting them with identification of the charred remains of their loved ones.
Mrs Karingira said she works in the Central Business District but on Wednesday she was just too weak to go to work and decided on staying home.
Speaking in a subdued voice, she paused often as she recalled the events of that morning.
According to some cultural beliefs, dreaming of tilling or preparing a field is associated with death or the loss of a loved one.
Ms Ngwenya remembered warning her friend after hearing about the dream.
“She told me that she had dreamt she was tilling a field. I told her that from what I had heard, such dreams can mean death,” said Ms Ngwenya, her voice trembling with emotion.
Hours later, tragedy struck.
“When I received the message about the accident, I immediately informed her. She did not believe me,” said Ms Ngwenya.
The two women travelled together to the scene, where their worst fears would be realised.
Fighting back tears, Ms Ngwenya said she could not bring herself to look at the burning vehicle.
“I did not even look at the kombi,” she said quietly.
Online Reporter