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Loveness Bepete Chronicle Reporter
A FATHER yesterday told of his grief after his 12-year-old son was killed by lightning while out herding cattle.
Prosper Ngulube, a Grade 7 pupil at Ingwenya Mission Primary School in Ntabazinduna, died at around 1PM on Wednesday after a lightning bolt scorched his chest.

The lightning strike also killed two goats but two other lads who were walking with Prosper were spared.

Gawu Ngulube, his father, said he was at Ntabazinduna Police Station when he received the news.

“It was a cloudy afternoon, and it wasn’t even raining. While at the police station where I was attending a matter involving my other son, a relative just broke the news to everyone in the room that my son was no more. I failed to understand the message at first since I had last seen my son looking healthy and fit after knocking off from school,” said Ngulube.

He said he heard that Prosper and his friends decided to trace their way back home upon realising that it was about to rain.

Ngulube said on their way back, Prosper was struck on the chest, fell on his forehead and died on the spot.

Prosper’s friends panicked and fled. They quickly notified elders who then relayed the tragedy to him.

“My son was killed together with the two goats. His two friends cheated death as they escaped unhurt. I’m deeply hurt by my son’s death. He was the last born of my seven children. I’m just trying to be strong but to be honest, l don’t have the strength to do anything,” he said.
Ngulube said his son will be buried today in Mafanisa, Ntabazinduna.

Also on Wednesday, an 11-year-old Gampu Primary School girl died after she was struck by lightning in Bulawayo’s Mpopoma suburb.

The Grade 6 pupil, who had been cleaning a classroom with her classmates, was walking to a dustbin within the school grounds when a single   bolt of lightning struck her.

Heavy rains fell in most parts of the city on Wednesday.