Seven Schoolchildren Die in Gweru Kombi Inferno

GWERU — Seven primary school pupils were killed in a devastating vehicle fire in Senga suburb, Gweru, on Wednesday afternoon after the kombi they had boarded to travel home burst into flames.

The victims, all learners at Matongo Primary School, had just finished classes when they boarded the commuter omnibus. Authorities said two of the deceased were boys, while five were girls.

Several other passengers escaped the blaze but suffered injuries. The kombi driver, conductor and 11 pupils were rushed to hospital for treatment after sustaining burns and other injuries.

Preliminary reports suggest the fire may have been triggered by a container carrying petrol that had reportedly been placed near the vehicle’s battery compartment.

Midlands Provincial Coordinator for the Public Service Commission, Andrew Chimanyiwa, attributed the tragedy to alleged negligence by the vehicle crew.

“It was a preventable disaster,” Chimanyiwa said. “The driver and conductor allegedly had a 10-litre container of petrol inside the vehicle, positioned close to the battery after the children had boarded. The vehicle then caught fire.”

Witnesses said the fire erupted moments after the pupils entered the kombi, spreading rapidly through the vehicle and leaving little time for passengers to escape.

The incident has sent shockwaves through Gweru, with grieving families, school authorities and community members struggling to come to terms with the loss of the seven children.

Authorities are expected to conduct further investigations to establish the exact cause of the fire and determine whether any criminal negligence was involved.