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Nqobile Tshili, Chronicle Correspondent
THE Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education yesterday said pupils who witnessed the fatal road accident that claimed the life of a Malindela Primary School Grade Three pupil on Tuesday will undergo counselling as most of them were left traumatised.

Emmanuel Mlambo (8) was run over by a speeding kombi on the first day of the Third Term.

The boy was buried yesterday at Umvutshwa private cemetery on the outskirts of Bulawayo.

Speaking during Emmanuel’s burial service held at his home in Pumula North, Khami District Schools Inspector, Mrs Jayne Ngwenya, said the boy’s death has traumatised other pupils.

“Some of them witnessed that horrific accident. The kombi that killed him was also carrying school children.

“We also attended the accident scene. It was a painful sight. There was blood everywhere. When you close your eyes you will see that child lying lifeless covered under a red blanket due to reckless driving. Some of the children will have to undergo counselling because even some of us were traumatised by what we saw. Worse off it happened on the schools opening day,” said Mrs Ngwenya.

She said the Ministry has engaged the Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe to educate pupils on rules of the road and lashed out at kombi drivers for recklessness on the roads.

“They think they are the only ones entitled to use the roads. They drive in the way they want disregarding other motorists and pedestrians. Why can’t their associations teach them to respect the rules of the road?” said Mrs Ngwenya.

“They should be on the outlook on the roads. A life has been lost. It can’t be brought back.”

She said Emmanuel’s death was particularly painful for his parents who will be watching their child’s peers grow and just imagine what he could have been.
Emmanuel’s father, Mr Charamba Mlambo, said it was difficult for him to accept that his son was dead.

“This really affects me very much. He was such a young boy who had no mistakes. There is no reason to say he is gone because he had done this. So it’s painful, he was very calm, intelligent in school with a very positive promising future,” said Mr Mlambo.
Emmanuel uncle, Mr Njabulo Ncube, said Government should consider bringing back roadblocks to arrest reckless driving by kombi crews and pirate taxi drivers.

“I know roadblocks were bad but I think it’s time to review that policy of removing road blocks. I think we need them. A lot of these drivers will be drunk and are not licensed. Then you ask yourself how then are they allowed to operate, more so when a police station is just a few metres from the main road,” said Mr Ncube.—@nqotshili