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Faith Mabuto Midlands Reporter
SIX pupils who died when a Granvia overturned along the Mbalabala-Masvingo Highway on Friday were yesterday laid to rest in Mberengwa.
A total of 16 pupils were injured, six of them seriously, when the overloaded vehicle veered off the road, overturned and rolled twice near Mimosa Mine turn-off.
Mberengwa North Legislator Cde Tofanana Zhou yesterday told The Chronicle that all the pupils were buried after a service at the Lutheran Church in the district.
He said the pupils were aged between six and 10 years and five of them were attending Shabanie Primary school.
Cde Zhou identified the pupils as Persine Shumba, 7, a Grade Two pupil at Jeffery Hopper Primary School while the other five who were attending Shabanie Primary School are Monica Shumba and Kiana Maidza both aged eight and in Grade Three, Ester Svinurai, 6 and Shekania Hove, 7, who were both in Grade One and Melanie Grace whose age was not given but was in Grade Six.
Cde Zhou said the six pupils that were transferred to the United Bulawayo Hospitals were still in the Intensive Care Unit and three of them were in critical condition.
Midlands Provincial Affairs Minister, Jason Machaya said the accident was unfortunate and a huge loss to the nation.
“This is a tragic loss to the nation considering the ages of the deceased. The vehicle was over loaded and it is important for owners of such vehicles to ensure their drivers don’t overload,” said Cde Machaya.
Online Reporter