President Emmerson Mnangagwa has declared the Gweru kombi fire that killed seven schoolchildren a National Disaster, opening the way for the Government to provide immediate financial and logistical support to affected families and injured survivors.

The Head of State made the declaration following a tragedy on Thursday in Senga suburb, where a commuter omnibus carrying pupils caught fire.

Seven pupils died in the blaze, while 11 other children and the driver survived but sustained injuries and are receiving treatment in hospital.

In a statement released by the Presidential Communications Department and shared on X, the President expressed deep sorrow over the loss of young lives.

He conveyed his condolences to the families who lost children and wished those in hospital a swift recovery.

The statement noted that President Mnangagwa had issued a directive to treat the incident as a national emergency.

According to the statement, “His Excellency the President has directed that this grisly accident be declared a National Disaster to allow Government room to move in and mobilize resources for immediate assistance to the bereaved families and all those hospitalised.”

The National Disaster declaration will allow authorities to fast-track aid to the bereaved and ensure that survivors get the medical care they need without delay.

Government departments are expected to coordinate the release of resources and support services to cushion the impact on families dealing with loss and hospital bills.

The declaration also signals that investigations into the cause of the fire will continue.

Authorities have not yet released details on what sparked the flames, but they are expected to probe the circumstances surrounding the accident to establish whether mechanical failure, human error or other factors were involved.

President Mnangagwa used the moment to highlight the rising number of road accidents across the country.

The President expressed concern about the frequency of fatal crashes in recent weeks and called for greater caution from motorists and passengers.

He restated his appeal for responsible behaviour on the roads.

The statement said, “The President has again appealed to all road users to exercise maximum caution on the roads to avoid more such tragic accidents, which have recurred with disturbing frequency in the last 30 days”.

The latest incident adds to a string of deadly traffic accidents recorded in Zimbabwe over the past month, prompting renewed calls for stricter enforcement of road safety regulations and better maintenance of public transport vehicles.

Kombis remain a major mode of transport for schoolchildren in urban areas, raising questions about safety standards and vehicle inspections.

As the nation reacts to the deaths, messages of sympathy have been pouring in from across the country.

Community leaders, civil society groups and members of the public have expressed shock and grief over the loss of the seven pupils, many of whom were from the same area in Senga.

Hopes remain high for the full recovery of the 11 injured pupils and the driver.

Hospital staff are attending to the survivors, and the Government has pledged to cover medical costs under the National Disaster response framework.

The declaration by President Mnangagwa places the Gweru tragedy among the limited number of incidents officially recognised as National Disasters in Zimbabwe.

That status allows for the mobilisation of state resources beyond routine emergency response, including direct assistance to families and coordinated support from multiple ministries.

The Government has not yet announced the full details of the assistance package, but officials indicated that measures would be put in place to support burial arrangements for the deceased and to assist families with immediate needs.

With investigations ongoing and the country in mourning, the focus now shifts to preventing a repeat of such tragedies.

President Mnangagwa’s renewed push for road safety underscores the urgency of addressing what he described as an alarming trend in road traffic fatalities.

The seven pupils’ deaths have left Senga and the wider Gweru community in grief, as families, schools and neighbours come to terms with the loss.

As support efforts get underway, the nation awaits further updates on the investigation and on the recovery of those injured in the devastating fire.