There was nothing but tears Thursday at Nantchengwa Primary School Ground, Traditional Authority (T/A) M’biza, in Zomba District where the funeral of four Standard Three learners who died on Wednesday after a wall collapsed on them was conducted.
Thousands came from all walks of life to bid farewell to the four children who departed untimely.
Women, men and children could not hold themselves but shed tears for the precious lives that have been lost while laying the foundation of a bright future they will not be there to behold.
Minister of Education, Science and Technology, Bright Msaka, said the government has learnt a bitter lesson from the tragedy.
Msaka made the remarks when he earlier visited 15 learners admitted to Zomba Central Hospital. The learners were lucky to escape the tentacles of death after a wall collapsed on them, but the incident has left a wound whose scars are permanent.
“You should know that the construction of school blocks for learning lies with local councils. From now on, we will make sure that all school blocks are properly constructed,” Msaka said.
The four children whose lives have been nipped in the bud are 11-year-old Saidi Bonongwe from Sitima Village, 13-year-old Madalitso Nayuma from Mangulunje Village, 10-year-old Gift Mwanyada from Mankhwali Village and 10-year-old Tisunge Fransisco from Steven Village— all from T/A M’biza.
Lucius Namanya, a representative of the bereaved families, said they are traumatised by the deaths.
“When we sent these children to school, we wanted them to attain education because we know that it is only educated people who can help develop our area and country. This is very unfortunate,” he said.
Namanya said parents constructed the block with bricks and mud since the school did not have adequate blocks to accommodate an increasing number of learners at the school.
Nantchengwa Primary School’s Head Teacher, Brazio Liviyele, said the learners were learning outside, behind the block that collapsed on them.
He said they made the decision because, the day being windy and cold, the block acted as a shield.
He said the structure collapsed due to heavy winds.
Apart from buying coffins for all the four innocent souls, the government cheered the 15 learners with assorted items and promised to look after them during their stay in hospital.
Preliminary findings by Mayaka Health Centre personnel indicate that the children died due to head injuries.
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