Story by: Memory Chamisa
HARARE – GRIEF has deepened for the Churchill High School community following a fire outbreak that gutted one of the school’s junior hostels Monday afternoon, leaving 54 boarding students counting their losses.
The devastating fire comes at a time when the school is already mourning the recent passing of two teachers, compounding the emotional toll on both learners and staff.
According to initial reports, the fire is believed to have started in one of the teachers’ rooms and is suspected to have been caused by an electrical fault, which triggered a gas explosion.
The blaze quickly engulfed the hostel, destroying furniture including beds, mattresses, school uniforms, and personal belongings.
Visibly distraught students were seen rummaging through the charred remains, trying to salvage what little they could.
The school’s Head, Mr Aquanos Mazhunga, confirmed the incident and reassured that the affected pupils had been temporarily relocated.
“54 students were affected by the fire. We have since moved them to another hostel while we assess the damage and plan the way forward,” he said.
The School Development Association (SDA) Chairperson, Ms Chipo Mahamba, emotionally described the extent of the loss and the trauma inflicted on the learners.
“As the Churchill family, this is devastating. We are still trying to come to terms with this tragedy. Beds, mattresses, uniforms everything has been burnt to ashes. The students are traumatised,” she said.
As night fell, a sombre mood hung over the school grounds, with many of the affected students still in shock, coming to terms with a day they will never forget.
Authorities are expected to conduct a full investigation into the cause of the fire, while calls have been made for support from well-wishers and alumni to assist the affected students.
