A heartbroken father whose son died in the devastating Gweru commuter omnibus fire that claimed the lives of seven schoolchildren has blamed overcrowding for turning the vehicle into a death trap.
Tafadzwa Jimu, the father of Albert Tawananyasha Jimu, said the tragedy should serve as a wake-up call for parents, transport operators and authorities about the dangers of overcrowded school transport.
The horrific incident occurred on Wednesday afternoon near Chirandu Shops in Gweru’s Senga suburb when a commuter omnibus transporting pupils caught fire and was rapidly engulfed in flames.
Of the 24 children aboard the vehicle, 17 managed to escape, but seven learners became trapped inside and died in the inferno.
Authorities are still investigating the cause of the blaze, which has been described as one of Zimbabwe’s worst school transport disasters in recent years.
Speaking outside Gweru Central Police Station, where distraught families gathered as authorities worked to identify the victims, Mr Jimu said the children had been packed into the vehicle with little regard for their safety.
“It is unfortunate that we had allowed this to happen. As parents we sometimes allow our children to be literally packed in the kombi and today it has backfired,” he said.
“My child and other innocent children were packed like sardines. They were made to sit on top of each other.”
Fighting back tears, Mr Jimu said the overcrowding made rescue efforts almost impossible once the fire broke out.
“That is why the driver and well-wishers failed to save all the children from the inferno. There were just too many in the commuter omnibus,” he said.
The grieving father, who was at work when news of the fire reached him, said parents must begin demanding safer and more appropriate transport for their children.
The commuter omnibus was carrying two female attendants and the driver at the time of the incident. All three suffered minor injuries and have since been discharged from hospital.
One of the attendants, Jennifer Muchenje, said she was seated in the front of the vehicle recording pupils’ names when the fire erupted.
“I was busy collecting names for our database so that we know who has paid and who is due to pay transport fees,” she said.
“I remember the fire started and I jumped out and injured my hands. Then the people managed to pull out some children and unfortunately they had no time to pull out everyone as the fire just covered the whole commuter omnibus.”
The intensity of the blaze left authorities with the difficult task of identifying the victims through DNA testing.
Police have collected samples from the children’s mothers to assist forensic experts in matching the remains recovered from the burnt-out vehicle.
A detective who addressed parents at Gweru Central Police Station explained that maternal DNA testing provides highly reliable results.
“We have collected samples from the six mothers, which will be matched with the tissues that were collected from the deceased,” he said.
As the identification process continues, families remain trapped in anguish, waiting for confirmation before they can lay their loved ones to rest.
Mr Jimu said he was clinging to memories of his son while hoping for closure.
“He was a bright boy. We just want to lay him to rest with dignity,” he said.
The tragedy has prompted a national outpouring of grief.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa has declared the incident a national disaster, paving the way for government support to affected families.
Primary and Secondary Education Minister Torerai Moyo said he was deeply saddened by the deaths of the learners from Matongo Primary School.
“What pains me the most is the fact that these were innocent children who have been robbed of their lives and their future due to negligence of the driver,” he said.
“All their aspirations and dreams have been shattered. My deepest condolences go to the bereaved families.”
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