The wreckage in which six pupils were killed and 16 injured yesterday
Munyaradzi Musiiwa and Elizabeth Tsuro Midlands Reporters
SIX primary school pupils from Mberengwa died yesterday morning and 16 others were injured, six of them seriously when the vehicle they were travelling in overturned at the 117km peg along the Mbalabala-Masvingo highway.
The pupils were coming from their homes in Mberengwa going to Shabanie Primary School in Zvishavane when the accident occurred at around 6.30AM.
A Toyota Granvia vehicle they were travelling in veered off the road and rolled twice near Mimosa Mine turn-off.
Five pupils died on the spot and the other one died on admission to Zvishavane District Hospital.
National Police spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba confirmed the accident.
“Police would like to confirm the death of six children in an accident at the 117km peg along Mbalabala-Masvingo Road at around 6:30AM this morning. The vehicle which was being driven by Tapiwa Courage Ncube with 22 pupils on board, was heading towards Zvishavane when he overtook a vehicle in front of an oncoming ox-drawn scotchcart,” she said.
“The driver tried to avoid a head-on collision and veered off the road. He lost control of the vehicle and it overturned and rolled twice before landing on its wheels. Five children died on the spot, one upon admission at Zvishavane District Hospital. Sixteen passengers were injured, six of them seriously.”
Snr Asst Comm Charamba said the bodies were taken to Zvishavane District Hospital mortuary.
She said investigations were underway, but preliminary findings were that the vehicle was being driven by an underage driver.
“The vehicle was overloaded considering that the Granvia is an eight-seater vehicle,” she said.
Mberengwa North legislator Cde Tafanana Zhou (Zanu-PF) and Midlands Provincial Education Director Agnes Gudo visited the accident scene.
The two also visited the 10 pupils that are admitted to Zvishavane District Hospital.
Cde Zhou said six other pupils who were seriously injured were referred to United Bulawayo Hospitals in Bulawayo.
“Ten pupils are admitted here (Zvishavane) while six have been transferred to UBH in Bulawayo,” said Cde Zhou.
He said the pupils live in Mberengwa and commute every day to Zvishavane to attend school.