Norman Dururu
GWERU – Police here have arrested the driver and conductor of the Senga commuter omnibus tragedy that killed seven school children who were travelling home after school.
After speculation over the fate of the commuter omnibus crew spread in Gweru following the incident, Police Friday confirmed the arrest of the duo.
The rumor mill in Gweru was awash with the news that the two and the commuter omnibus owner were being kept at the police for their safety against public vitriol.
Police national spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi Friday said Police had arrested the driver Malcolm Elvis Cook (22) and conductor Trinity Mudhenge (18) for culpable homicide.
Nyathi said investigations established that the vehicle had picked school children from various schools before the conductor boarded the omnibus carrying a jerry can with nine litres of petrol, which was placed behind the driver’s seat.
“While the vehicle was travelling along its route, a flame was observed emanating from the area where the fuel container had been placed, resulting in the tragic incident about 100 metres from Matongo Primary School premises near Chirandu Business Centre,” Nyathi said.
He said the identities of the seven victims will only be released after DNA examinations have been completed and positive identifications have been made and confirmed.
Authorities collected DNA samples from the victims on Thursday and Friday.
