Fire has swept through Kabunda Girls High School on the outskirts of Mansa in Luapula Province, leaving four dormitories burnt, three pupils admitted to hospital and millions of Kwacha worth of girls’ property lost.
The inferno started on Saturday night around 22:00 hours as the girls were sleeping before it spread rapidly to the four closely-knit hostels, prompting the girls to scamper for their safety and leaving behind everything they owned.
“I have completely nothing as you see me. This chitenge (wrapper) I am wearing together with the top (blouse), I just picked from what my friends were throwing away.
‘‘I lost everything,” mourned Hellen Bwalya, a grade 12 pupil, as she struggled to stand properly in some over-size patapata slippers.
Mansa District education board secretary Valerie Mulwanda, who confirmed the incident, said the cause of the fire was yet to be established although initial investigations indicated it could have resulted from a suspected electrical fault.
[pullquote]“I have completely nothing as you see me. This chitenge (wrapper) I am wearing together with the top (blouse), I just picked from what my friends were throwing away.
‘‘I lost everything,” mourned Hellen Bwalya, a grade 12 pupil, as she struggled to stand properly in some over-size patapata slippers.[/pullquote]
Ms Mulwanda described the damage to the school as “extensive” saying only 96 of the 468 pupils at the all-girls boarding school had not lost any property as their dormitory did not catch fire.
“We have three girls still in hospital.
‘‘Their condition is stable. They are Theresa Makungu, Lillian Chungu and Constance Mbewe,” Ms Mulwanda told the Times in an interview at the school, some 15 kilometres west of the Mansa District administrative centre.
The affected girls lost clothes, books, beddings and other personal belongings, giving rise to calls for the school to be closed immediately.
But Ms Mulwanda declined to comment on the prospects of closing the institution and called for pupils to remain calm.
“We are aware that most of them (pupils) have lost their books. They have lost personal properties like mattresses and bedding, but we are advising them to continue studying in groups, to continue revising.
“They should be calm and stick within the institution. Grade 12s have already started writing and they need to continue,” she said.
By mid-day yesterday, some hostels whose roofs crumbled during the inferno were smouldering while most pupils could be spotted walking about the school premises in groups of fours and fives, recounting the happenings of the previous night with vivid desolation.
The outer premises were littered with girls’ burnt garments such as bracelets, wrist watches and neck chains.
A heavy presence of armed police officers was on site to provide security as Government officials from the provincial administration kept coming in turns to check on the extent of the damage.
“We shall soon be informed of what step to take. Otherwise, it (the fire) has really devastated us.
“We are not sure of the cause as yet, but the pupils are saying they just saw a spark from one of the hostels, and that’s how the fire started,” said school headteacher, Stella Mambwe.
[ Times of Zambia ]
Does the school not have fire extiguishers?Anyway too bad for the small girls.
WHY CANT YOU BUY YOURSELF MEN
I would suspect arson by one of the girls who was not ready for the examination. Maliciously burning property to cause commotion. I stand to be corrected.
Moderator #2, you are right on target!
Don’t forgive the reality of witchcraft may have played a part as well
A few days before exams! This is a very suspicious incident – possibly by one of the girls not ready for the exams.
Very sad indeed. Kabunda girls yaba…..I think those who are affected can withraw.
May The Lord God comfort these poor souls.
may god be their strength
Too bad indeed
Ohh!! My home village!. I am really touched. I have a strong feeling that there’s more to that inferno than meets the eye.
Ba LT, can you please give me a Zambian flag? I am not in that country.
chi Somo!
You guys have been away from home too long. S…t like that doesn’t happen back in Zed, burning down dorms to avoid exams?
hope the RB and the group will help out our kids at school, how did the fire start?
Our Gracious, Loving and Caring Father.
Thank you for your never ending love.
Thank you for saving lives in this devastating inferno.
Dear Lord, many are undoubtedly traumatised and feeling so very low, others are possibly down and out, but we thank you for the fact that you shall cause them to ARISE AND SHINE.
Thank you Lord for the new beginning you are about to start in their lives and thank you for your enceasing love.
Lord, you are indeed a great God. Thank you in Jesus’ name
Amen
I remember that night I ws in 12 jst after my Biology practical that saturday night. I ws abt to sleep whn I head people screamin ad shouting fire(umulilo) I rushd out side only to find one of doms burning I dropd into tears nt knowing what to do I rushed back in the dom I ws sleeping only to get my blankets I tried to open my locker their ws an electrical fuse I couldn’t get any thing I went back outside t ws o dack everyone ws crying ad runing for help,I didnt do anything only to drop into tears