News / Regional
Zimbabwe Teachers Association calls for urgent counselling for school
17 Feb 2012 at 23:10hrs | Views
A total of 38 out of the 40 pupils who were struck by lightning at a school playground in Mangwe on Wednesday were from the same class.
Two pupils, Sharon Sibanda (13) and Bongile Ndlovu (12), died on the spot while more than 20 were hospitalised at Plumtree District Hospital for injuries ranging from severe burns, headaches and painful eyes.
Members of staff at Nguwanyana Primary School yesterday said the lightning first struck the Grade 6B classroom, but the pupils were not in because they had gone for lunch.
They said it then struck the school office before striking the Grade 6B pupils in the playground.
The Grade 6B teacher, a Ms Sibindi, was reportedly so traumatised by the occurrence that she has vowed not to return to the classroom.
Villagers said they had to douse the pupils with water to put out the fire.
The Zimbabwe Teachers Association (Zimta), which made cash donations to the victims, called for urgent counselling for the entire school.
Members of staff at the school said a hysterical Ms Sibindi said the disaster was not "natural."
"She was screaming soon after the incident. She could not accept that the incident was just a natural disaster. She vowed that she would never return to the classroom, even if she were to be forced to do so at gunpoint.
MaSibindi said although she was not superstitious, she felt the lightning was after one of her pupils," said a member of staff who declined to be named.
Ms Sibindi was not at the school as she was said to be visiting some of the injured pupils.
Mr Cletus Ndlovu (43), Bongile Ndlovu's uncle, was among the first people to arrive at the scene.
He said he had been at a meeting about 500 metres away from the scene of the tragedy.
"There was a loud clap and the earth shook. Some people at the meeting fell down. I smelt burning flesh and something else I cannot describe. After that I heard children screaming and I rushed to see what had happened," said Mr Ndlovu.
He said he found children scattered on the ground, with their uniforms ablaze.
"Most of them were motionless. A few were screaming for help as they were on fire. I thought the children were dead. We teamed up with other villagers and used buckets to get water from the school borehole to put out the flames. I will never forget what I saw," he said.
Mr Ndlovu said villagers were poor and such disasters added to the immense financial burden that they had to bear.
Other villagers said a cleansing ceremony was needed at the school because whoever sent the lightning was likely to do it again.
Zimta representatives yesterday gave $150 to each of the two families whose children died. They also gave a number of the seriously injured victims $50 each, to assist with medical expenses.
"Only one pupil who was severely burnt is still in hospital. The others have been discharged. However, some children who are suffering after-effects of the lightning are still being brought to the hospital," said the Zimta provincial secretary for Matabeleland South, Mr Bhekisisa Ngwenya.
He said it was important for everyone at the school to be counselled.
"The effects of such a thing are long lasting. Without counselling, the psychological scars suffered by the victims may not heal," said Mr Ngwenya.
The Zimta team also made up of the provincial treasurer, Mr Charles Mthombeni and the secondary teachers' representative, Mr Handsome Ncube, visited some of the victims at their homes.
They had a chance to see one of the children who was lucky to escape with relatively minor burns, Noster Dube (12).
The dead pupils will be laid to rest at Madabe village today.
Meanwhile, the Zanu-PF national chairman, Ambassador Simon Khaya Moyo yesterday donated $500 to the dead pupils' families.
In a statement Ambassador Khaya Moyo said the disaster was an unusual and devastating experience.
"We mourn and grieve with the affected families. To a large extent our hope has been extinguished as the departed pupils were indeed the future leaders of this great nation. In wishing the injured speedy recovery, may the good Lord give everyone affected strength and staying power," said Ambassador Khaya Moyo.
Two pupils, Sharon Sibanda (13) and Bongile Ndlovu (12), died on the spot while more than 20 were hospitalised at Plumtree District Hospital for injuries ranging from severe burns, headaches and painful eyes.
Members of staff at Nguwanyana Primary School yesterday said the lightning first struck the Grade 6B classroom, but the pupils were not in because they had gone for lunch.
They said it then struck the school office before striking the Grade 6B pupils in the playground.
The Grade 6B teacher, a Ms Sibindi, was reportedly so traumatised by the occurrence that she has vowed not to return to the classroom.
Villagers said they had to douse the pupils with water to put out the fire.
The Zimbabwe Teachers Association (Zimta), which made cash donations to the victims, called for urgent counselling for the entire school.
Members of staff at the school said a hysterical Ms Sibindi said the disaster was not "natural."
"She was screaming soon after the incident. She could not accept that the incident was just a natural disaster. She vowed that she would never return to the classroom, even if she were to be forced to do so at gunpoint.
MaSibindi said although she was not superstitious, she felt the lightning was after one of her pupils," said a member of staff who declined to be named.
Ms Sibindi was not at the school as she was said to be visiting some of the injured pupils.
Mr Cletus Ndlovu (43), Bongile Ndlovu's uncle, was among the first people to arrive at the scene.
He said he had been at a meeting about 500 metres away from the scene of the tragedy.
"There was a loud clap and the earth shook. Some people at the meeting fell down. I smelt burning flesh and something else I cannot describe. After that I heard children screaming and I rushed to see what had happened," said Mr Ndlovu.
He said he found children scattered on the ground, with their uniforms ablaze.
"Most of them were motionless. A few were screaming for help as they were on fire. I thought the children were dead. We teamed up with other villagers and used buckets to get water from the school borehole to put out the flames. I will never forget what I saw," he said.
Mr Ndlovu said villagers were poor and such disasters added to the immense financial burden that they had to bear.
Other villagers said a cleansing ceremony was needed at the school because whoever sent the lightning was likely to do it again.
Zimta representatives yesterday gave $150 to each of the two families whose children died. They also gave a number of the seriously injured victims $50 each, to assist with medical expenses.
"Only one pupil who was severely burnt is still in hospital. The others have been discharged. However, some children who are suffering after-effects of the lightning are still being brought to the hospital," said the Zimta provincial secretary for Matabeleland South, Mr Bhekisisa Ngwenya.
He said it was important for everyone at the school to be counselled.
"The effects of such a thing are long lasting. Without counselling, the psychological scars suffered by the victims may not heal," said Mr Ngwenya.
The Zimta team also made up of the provincial treasurer, Mr Charles Mthombeni and the secondary teachers' representative, Mr Handsome Ncube, visited some of the victims at their homes.
They had a chance to see one of the children who was lucky to escape with relatively minor burns, Noster Dube (12).
The dead pupils will be laid to rest at Madabe village today.
Meanwhile, the Zanu-PF national chairman, Ambassador Simon Khaya Moyo yesterday donated $500 to the dead pupils' families.
In a statement Ambassador Khaya Moyo said the disaster was an unusual and devastating experience.
"We mourn and grieve with the affected families. To a large extent our hope has been extinguished as the departed pupils were indeed the future leaders of this great nation. In wishing the injured speedy recovery, may the good Lord give everyone affected strength and staying power," said Ambassador Khaya Moyo.
Source - TC
