THE Zimbabwe Republic Police has established that the cause of the mayhem that resulted in a stampede leading to the death of 11 people at Mbizo Stadium in Kwekwe last week was a leaked gas bottle that burst, sending congregants into panic mode.
BLESSED MHLANGA AND CHARLES LAITON
This comes as Mbizo and Kwekwe Central constituency parliamentarians plan to tomorrow push Parliament to open a commission of inquiry into the stampede at the Prophetic and Healing Deliverance (PHD) Ministries crusade.
According to the police, one Amos Muzeiwa (43) was using gas bottle to cook fast foods for sale to the public during the service.
His gas bottle leaked and burst, contrary to reports that police had used teargas smoke.
In a statement yesterday, the Zimbabwe Republic Police said police wanted to set the record straight since the unfortunate event had been shrouded in mysteries.
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“Amos Muzeiwa (43) was using gas bottles to cook fast foods such as sausages and sell to the public in the stadium. The gas bottles leaked and burst as the crowd was about to leave the stadium. This contributed to the stampede which unfortunately led to the loss of life,” the ZRP said.
The police also said they had established that only the main gate, normally used by vehicles, and a smaller gate were opened by Kwekwe Council officials who handed the keys over to PHD ushers.
The other two gates remained locked by the council authorities.
“We would also like to point out that the PHD event was a private function and police are not obliged to provide security on such activities. All police details that were on duty on that day had no tear smoke or baton sticks as had been previously alleged,” the ZRP said.
The ZRP also urged churches and other organisations that may plan to host such gatherings, to consider utilising and hiring open spaces which were not confined.
Meanwhile, in a moving grave side speech at the burial of one of the five children who died Thursday, Mbizo MP Settlement Chikwinya said he had agreed with Masango Matambanadzo of Kwekwe Central to move a motion that Parliament should establish a commission of inquiry.
“We have agreed to move a motion in Parliament to have a commission of inquiry when we seat on Tuesday (tomorrow), but not for the purposes of finding fault, but to look at what went wrong and how we can avoid such incidences in the future,” he said at the burial of Tamuka Chivasa (11).
Chivasa’s family member Edward Nyamayedenga said he prayed that those responsible for the death of his nephew would receive justice.
“As I bury my nephew, I pray that if there is an inquiry, those who will be found to have caused it should get the justice that they deserve,” Nyamayedenga said.
Matambanadzo said people should stop whipping emotions by peddling falsehoods and accusations.
He said those who were now questioning the prophetic powers of PHD Ministries leader Walter Magaya should read the Bible before speaking too loud.
“We have heard some say the police should take the heat for poor crowd control tactics. Some want council to answer allegations that they refused to remove precast wall panels at the stadium in advance and some of you have been saying why did Magaya not see this in advance and prevented it.
“I appeal to you not to whip emotions and play the blame game. Death is God’s law and it comes at a time he so wishes. No prophet, no matter how powerful, can predict the death of a human being and nobody wanted those who died to die,” Matambanadzo said to applause.
A somber atmosphere engulfed the city in what was a black Sunday with five funerals being conducted in one day at different intervals at Masasa and Mbizo 10 cemeteries.
PHD Ministries, which donated $1 000 for each family, also provided a bus for each of the five burials which took place Sunday. Winnmore Chikanda (12), Cynthia Katsholo (46) Juliet Mawere (55) and Tendekai Bafana (9) were all buried at funerals attended by city councillors, MPs, PHD members and the Kwekwe Community.
Other people who died and are expected to be buried soon are Ian Nkomo (40), Rachel Zvinei (16), Albert Ndure (13), Juliet Mawere (55), Bridget Mukarati (34), Cynthia Jane Katsholo (47), Grace Gwinji (age not supplied) and Shadreck Gumisidzo (59).
On the same note, PHD Ministries has called the 11 souls that perished in a stampede as “martyrs”.
In a condolence message posted on the church’s Facebook page on Saturday, Magaya said: “Their souls will surely rest in peace because they passed on at a place and time which had the anointed presence of the Almighty God.”
Magaya, who has received his fair share of criticism for the unfortunate event, said he sincerely regretted the “tragic” loss of lives.
“Families lost a child, a mother, or a father, but to me, I have lost 11 children. They are martyrs,” he said.
Social media was awash over the weekend with varied opinions over the incident which plunged the small city of Kwekwe into mourning.
Some were calling it a tragedy driven by desperation for a better life, while others said it was a sacrifice.