A BUS ferrying Blakiston Primary School pupils from Harare for a field trip in Kariba was involved in an accident near Karoi on Monday morning, sending parents into panic, as social media networks broke the news.
by AUDREY MUTASA
When NewsDay visited the school, restless parents and guardians were demanding clarification from authorities after learning of the news via several social media platforms including Facebook and WhatsApp.
A school official, who declined to be named, confirmed the accident and said some pupils had been injured and taken to Karoi District Hospital, saying there were no fatalities.
“If you have relatives with Grade 4 kids at Blakiston Primary, may you check on them. Their bus was involved in an accident just after Karoi, Makuti area,” read a message on WhatsApp, while a picture of the stricken school bus also circulated.
“The bus rolled three times. We thank God no deaths were reported, but some were injured. The injured are admitted at Karoi Hospital.”
The official at the school said: “I cannot talk to the media without the authority from the (Education) ministry. Parents came here to enquire after learning of the accident, but as I said, I can’t say more.”
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
The bus is said to have rolled three times.
Police spokespersons Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba and Chief Superintendent Paul Nyathi could not be reached for comment yesterday, as their mobile phones were not reachable.
A policeman in Karoi said he could not comment on the accident, as he had forwarded a report to Harare and only Charamba and Nyathi could comment.
While some parents were anxious about the safety of their children, others were attending the prize-giving day for the early childhood development class, seemingly oblivious of the unsettling situation.
