Shock has gripped Misesa Primary School along the Limbe-Thyolo Road in Malawi’s commercial city, Blantyre, after a motorist lost control of his vehicle on Friday afternoon and hit two pupils who later died in hospital.
One more pupil, a 12-year-old, was still admitted to Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital (QECH) as of Monday. A 40-year-old man, who was also caught up in the fatal accident, was also at the hospital, but in stable condition, according to police.
Limbe Police Station deputy public relations officer Pezetsai Zembeneko identified the deceased as Flora Matope (15) who died minutes after arrival at QECH on Friday and Violet William (18) who died on Sunday.
The police spokesperson said Flora and Violet, who sustained multiple injuries, were in intensive care unit (ICU) at the hospital, but did not make it.
Zembeneko said the driver of the vehicle, identified as Lazarus Nyirenda, 43, from Mlowe Village, Traditional Authority (T/A) Mwamlowe in Rumphi, was discharged from QECH on Monday and has since been charged with causing death by careless driving.
Zembeneko identified the 40-year-old man as Elias Kondesi from Kuweluza Village, T/A Changata in Thyolo.
The PRO said motorists should always ensure that their vehicles are roadworthy before going on the road.
Misesa Primary School head teacher Christina Chaluluka said the pupils were hit on the roadside pavement after they had already crossed the pedestrian crossing.
Chaluluka said Flora was buried on Saturday at Mbulumbuzi in Chiradzulu whereas Violet was laid to rest in Thyolo on Monday.
The school is one of many located along busy highways across the country, a development that puts pupils at risk of being hit by vehicles. In some schools, private sector companies have donated scholar traffic patrol kits, an arrangement that sees pupils control traffic to allow safe crossing of the road by their colleagues.
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