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Yoliswa Dube Chronicle Reporter
VICE-President Phelekezela Mphoko yesterday donated cash and groceries to the family of the four children who were burnt to death after a fire gutted a shop they were sleeping in at Tshipisane village in Matobo District, Matabeleland South province.

At the time of the incident, Mbongiseni Dube, 2, Thandolwenkosi Bhebhe, 3, Gugulethu Dube, 9, and Iphithule Dube, 11 were in the care of Limukani Mnguni, 20, who left a gas stove on that ignited a petrol container which exploded in the children’s bedroom.

Mnguni is admitted to United Bulawayo Hospitals with severe burns.

Handing over the donation of $1,000 cash and $2,000 worth of groceries, VP Mphoko encouraged people to practise caution when handling potentially dangerous appliances.

The children’s grandfather, Isaac Dube, said he was still shocked by the accident but did not blame anyone for it.

“We leave everything to God. We can’t blame anyone,” he said.

The mother of the three children who were reduced to ashes, Siphiwe Dube, said she had visited her rural home when the tragedy struck.

One of the first people to arrive at the scene, Jonathan Ncube, said he was awoken by blood curdling screams and saw thick black smoke coming from the shop as the fire consumed it.

Unfortunately, he said, it was already too late by the time he got to the shop as fire was coming through the roof, making it impossible for him to save the children.

The children will be buried at Tshipisane village tomorrow.

VP Mphoko also visited the grave yard belonging to the family of the late nationalist Vice-President Dr Joshua Nkomo, who led PF-Zapu into signing of the Unity Accord on December 22, 1987.

The grave yard, which is adjacent to the site of the explosion, is where Nyongolo Nkomo, father to the late Father Zimbabwe, is buried.