MARTIN MAWAYA
GWERU — The Gweru District Civil Protection Unit (CPU) this afternoon moved to provide psychological support and additional relief assistance to families of the seven learners who perished in a tragic kombi inferno.
The intervention comes after the learners were laid to rest over the weekend in Gweru and other parts of the province amid scenes of grief and mourning.
Gweru District Development Coordinator Tarisai Mudadigwa said authorities would continue supporting the affected families as they come to terms with the tragedy.
“We are going to visit the families today to offer additional counselling. We are also going to provide more hampers and our psychological support teams will continue providing counselling until this matter comes to closure,” Mudadigwa said.
Hundreds of mourners braved the cold weather to attend the burials as families and community members bid farewell to the young learners whose lives were cut short.
Mental health experts say counselling is critical following traumatic incidents as it helps bereaved families process grief, manage emotional distress and reduce the risk of long-term psychological problems.
The tragedy has also left fellow learners struggling to cope with the loss of their classmates.
Psychologists warn that children exposed to such traumatic events may experience anxiety, fear, sleep disturbances, difficulty concentrating and declining school performance if adequate support is not provided.
Experts have also recommended continued counselling programmes at the affected school, peer support initiatives and regular mental health assessments to help learners navigate the grieving process.
