DETAILED REPORT: Seven School Children Burnt to Death in Gweru Kombi Fire

Senga, Gweru - Seven primary school children died on Wednesday afternoon while 17 others, including the driver and conductor, escaped and sustained injuries when a Toyota Hiace high roof commuter omnibus they were travelling in caught fire at Chirandu Business Centre in Senga, Gweru.

The horrific incident, which occurred at approximately 14:30 p.m., has plunged the Midlands capital into mourning amid indications that the vehicle was transporting 24 pupils from the council-run Matongo Primary School.

National Police Spokesperson, Commissioner Paul Nyathi, confirmed the tragedy and stated that preliminary investigations point toward the illegal transportation of fuel as the catalyst for the disaster.

"The Zimbabwe Republic Police confirms a tragic incident in which a kombi believed to have been carrying 24 school children caught fire on June 10, 2026, at approximately 1430 hours at Chirandu Business Centre, Senga, Gweru," Commissioner Nyathi said.

"So far, seven people have been confirmed dead, while the number of injured persons is still being verified.

"Preliminary investigations indicate that the vehicle may have been carrying a jerry can of petrol at the time of the incident.

"Police are conducting comprehensive investigations to establish the full circumstances surrounding the tragedy. More details will be released in due course," said Commissioner Nyathi.

The driver of the vehicle, Malcom Kupa, who spoke to local newspaper, The Sun, said the explosion occurred shortly after he offered assistance to a colleague.

"I gave a lift to another kombi driver who was carrying a jerry can of petrol about 100 metres from the site of the accident.

"He placed the jerry can on top of the battery, which resulted in the explosion," Kupa said.

Acting Officer Commanding Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) Gweru District, Superintendent Rosemary Gete, visited the scene just after it was reported and urged motorists to adhere strictly to public safety regulations, noting that official investigations into the cause of the fire remain active.

"The commuter omnibus was carrying at least 2[4] school children from Matongo Primary School in the Senga area of Gweru.

"The exact cause of the fire is not yet known, since the matter is under investigation.

"We appeal to motorists not to carry inflammable substances like petrol in public service vehicles," Superintendent Gete said.

Gweru Mayor, Councillor Martin Chivhoko, also visited the site to assess the situation, extended his condolences to the affected community and confirmed that the deceased were local learners.

"Many of the victims were from the council-owned Matongo Primary School," Councillor Chivhoko said, describing the loss as a profound blow to the city.

From Harare, where he is attending Parliamentary business, Midlands Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Honourable Owen Ncube, conveyed his deepest sympathies to the bereaved families.

Minister Ncube assured the community that the Government would stand firmly with them during the painful period, providing all necessary support and assistance as the state apparatus continues its investigations.

Traumatised eyewitnesses at the business centre described a frantic and agonising rescue attempt, noting that the fire rapidly consumed the vehicle roughly within 30 seconds.

"I work here at the Senga shops, and we ran to try and help the children the moment we saw the vehicle catch fire," an eyewitness said.

"We managed to rescue a few children, but the fire was originating from the driver's side. As you know, these children are often packed heavily, sometimes seven to a row.

"The greatest challenge was that the rear boot door jammed and refused to open. If it had opened, I don't think so many children would have perished," the eye witness said.

"It is deeply painful; those who were close to the windows were assisted, but the fire spread too fast and engulfed the car within 30 seconds. We tried breaking the windows but failed, and we had to watch them burn," he said

The tragedy has ignited intense debate regarding school transport safety and regulations, with educational authorities calling for immediate legislative intervention.

Midlands Provincial Education Director, Jameson Machimbira, expressed deep concern over the lack of safety protocols governing the transport of pupils.

"The challenge we have in terms of transporting children is that when they are returning home, they are bunched up into these kombis, including those heading to Mkoba," Machimbira said.

"If you look at the way they load, and the fact that there was fuel inside, it shows there were no control measures in terms of the children's safety. We need laws that clearly state who qualifies to transport school children," he said.

Grieving Senga residents expressed bitter frustration at the scene, accusing traffic police of negligence and prioritising bribery over public safety.

"These kombis pay a US$3 bribe at the roadblocks and they are permitted to operate for the entire day," a distraught resident alleged.

"It doesn't matter whether the vehicle is overloaded or if it is not roadworthy. It's deeply unfortunate what happened to these children; may they rest in peace. Some officials are sleeping on the job and profiting from this chaos," the resident said.

Another resident echoed these sentiments, pointing out that public transport vehicles regularly breach safety laws in full view of the authorities.

"These kombis pass through police roadblocks daily and the police only collect money from them.

"What purpose does it serve? There is a permanent roadblock right by the Senga traffic circle where you see kombis overloaded with children, but the police simply collect bribes instead of ensuring the safety of these young lives," the resident alleged.