Norman Dururu
GWERU – DNA and postmortem results for the seven Gweru schoolchildren who died in an inferno after the commuter omnibus they were travelling in caught fire have been completed, paving the way for their burials.
The burials are expected to begin today, more than a week after the tragic incident.
Gweru District Development Coordinator Tarisai Mudadigwa said completion of the DNA tests had brought closure to the identification process, enabling grieving families to proceed with burial arrangements.
He said Government had established a one-stop centre to assist bereaved families with burial orders and coordination of logistical arrangements to ease the process.
“The DNA and postmortem results for the seven children who died in last week’s inferno have now been finalised, confirming the identities of all the victims and clearing the way for burial arrangements to begin,” said Mudadigwa.
“The remains are now ready for collection, and families are expected to start receiving their loved ones in preparation for burial ceremonies scheduled across various parts of the district.”
Mudadigwa said Government would continue providing psychosocial support to the affected families after the burials, noting that they would require counselling and ongoing assistance.
A memorial service led by First Lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa for the seven children was held last Wednesday and attended by thousands of mourners after Government declared the accident a state of disaster.
Burials had been delayed pending the finalisation of DNA tests to help identify some of the victims, whose bodies had been burnt beyond recognition.
Meanwhile, court proceedings against the driver and conductor of the commuter omnibus have begun, with the pair facing negligence charges linked to the tragedy.
