Dumisani Ndlovu
GWERU – The driver and conductor of a Gweru commuter omnibus that caught fire and killed seven schoolchildren on Wednesday have been remanded in custody to June 23 for routine remand.
Malcolm Elvis Cook (22) and Trinity Mudhenge (18) appeared before Gweru Magistrate Deone Chiroyi on Saturday facing seven counts of culpable homicide over the June 8 tragedy near Chirandu Business Centre in Senga.
They were not asked to plead.
State allegations say Mudhenge boarded the kombi with a jerry can holding about nine tres of petrol after the vehicle picked up pupils from several schools.
The fuel was allegedly placed behind the driver’s seat.
While the kombi was moving, fire broke out near the petrol and spread fast through the passenger compartment.
Seven children of the 24 that were in the commuter omnibus died.
Prosecutors allege the deaths resulted from negligent transportation and storage of petrol in a passenger vehicle.
The accident is among the deadliest road incidents involving schoolchildren in recent years.
Government has declared it a state of disaster to cover funeral costs.
Families are still waiting for DNA results to identify the children, who were burnt beyond recognition so that burials can be carried out.
