Story by Wellington Makonese
GOVERNMENT has moved in to provide psychosocial support to pupils, teachers and families affected by the Gweru commuter omnibus inferno, which claimed seven learners.
A sombre atmosphere continues to hang over Matongo Primary School, where learners and staff are still struggling to come to terms with the loss of classmates and friends.
Classrooms that would ordinarily be filled with learning and laughter have become spaces of reflection and mourning.
“It is a difficult thing to accept that you have bathed your child, bought uniforms and pay fees only to be told your child is no more,” a parent said.
“It is a touching incident for both our school and staff. We watched everything unfold, and handling parents is another issue,” Senga Primary School’s Headmistress, Ms Tambudzai Ngoma said.
“This has been one of the most difficult phases for our school to conduct lessons. To psyche up the community is the next step,” Head at Matongo Primary School, Mrs Ethel Muwiri said.
As condolence messages continue to pour in, most community members are still grappling with unanswered questions surrounding the tragedy.
“As a parent, this is something one cannot easily come to terms with,” a parent said.
“It is important for us drivers to respect lives, especially children,” a driver noted.
“We are short of words except to mourn as a community,” a community member said.
The government has since deployed counsellors to provide psychosocial support.
“Our immediate priority is the welfare of learners. We have mobilised counselling teams to provide psychosocial support to pupils, teachers and families. We want to ensure that learners receive the assistance they need during this difficult period,” Midlands Provincial Education Director, Mr Jameson Matimbira said.
Meanwhile, police say forensic processes to positively identify the deceased have been conducted, and the results are pending.
Investigations into the cause of the inferno are continuing, with the driver expected to face culpable homicide charges.
As the community mourns the loss of its learners, efforts are centred on helping survivors and their classmates find strength and hope in the aftermath of one of the province’s most tragic incidents.
