Seven Schoolchildren Killed As Kombi Bursts Into Flames In Gweru

Seven schoolchildren were killed on Wednesday in Senga suburb, Gweru, after a kombi they were travelling in was engulfed in a fire.

The pupils, from Matongo Primary School, had boarded the kombi after finishing school. Of the seven victims, two were boys, and five were girls.

It is alleged that a container of petrol placed near the vehicle’s battery may have sparked the blaze.

The driver and conductor, along with 11 other pupils, were taken to the hospital after sustaining various degrees of injury.

Midlands Provincial Coordinator of the Public Service Commission, Andrew Chimanyiwa, blamed the kombi crew for negligence that led to the tragedy.

“It’s 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,” he said.

Witnesses said the vehicle caught fire shortly after the pupils had boarded, with the flames spreading rapidly before anyone could escape.

More: B-Metro

Related:

Driver, Conductor Arrested Over Kombi Fire That Killed Seven Schoolchildren In Gweru Driver, Conductor Remanded In Custody Over Kombi Inferno That Killed Seven Pupils In Gweru