A devastating fire that engulfed a commuter omnibus carrying primary school pupils in Gweru on Wednesday claimed the lives of seven children, leaving families, teachers and residents in shock.
The tragedy occurred at around 1pm near Senga Shopping Centre as the vehicle transported pupils from Matongo and Stanley primary schools to their homes in Mtautsi, Dalsford and Nehosho suburbs.
Authorities say preliminary investigations indicate that 23 learners were on board the kombi when it suddenly caught fire.
Seven pupils — two girls and five boys — who were seated at the rear of the vehicle died at the scene after becoming trapped inside the burning omnibus.
Shoppers, residents and patrons at nearby businesses rushed to the scene and launched desperate efforts to rescue the children as flames rapidly engulfed the vehicle.
Several pupils were pulled to safety after rescuers smashed windows and forced open the sliding door, but those seated at the back were unable to escape.
A resident who helped with the rescue said the tragedy unfolded within minutes.
“We quickly sprang to action when we saw the vehicle on fire. We broke the windows to rescue others while others came through the sliding doors,” said Aaron Moyo.
“The fire was just too much as we failed to save those who were at the back. Their screams will haunt me for life.
“It was just too much.”
By the time emergency services arrived, the kombi had been reduced to a burnt-out shell.
Public Service Commission Midlands Provincial Coordinator Andrew Chimanyiwa said officials were attending the burial of a liberation war hero at the Midlands Heroes Acre when news of the disaster reached them.
“We recovered seven bodies, that is two girls and five boys,” he said.
“What happened here is total negligence. The driver and the conductor had a 10-litre jerry can with petrol, which they placed close to the battery after loading the children and the vehicle exploded.”
Authorities are continuing investigations to determine the exact cause of the fire.
Midlands police commander Commissioner Patson Nyabadza later addressed distraught parents and guardians gathered at Matongo Primary School.
He said police were still verifying details of all the children who had been on board the vehicle.
“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.
Nyabadza also indicated that contrary to earlier reports, no surviving child had been admitted to hospital because those rescued escaped without injuries.
Gweru Mayor Martin Chivhoko described the incident as one of the darkest days in the city’s recent history.
“I can confirm that seven bodies of infant learners were retrieved from a commuter omnibus that caught fire in Senga today,” he said.
“It’s a sad day for the people of Gweru.”
Ward 5 Councillor Aaron Mumvana said the pupils were being transported home when disaster struck.
“It was around lunch hour when the vehicle caught fire,” he said.
“Revellers and shoppers who were at the shopping centre managed to open the sliding door and took out the pupils. Unfortunately those at the back failed to make it.”
Earlier, the Zimbabwe Republic Police confirmed the incident and said preliminary investigations suggested the vehicle may have been carrying a jerry can of petrol at the time of the fire.
The tragedy has left the Gweru community reeling, with grief-stricken parents, teachers and fellow pupils mourning the loss of seven young lives in one of the city’s worst school transport disasters in recent memory.
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