The Sunday Mail
. . . Blame police
. . . Apostolic sect dragged into saga
Munyaradzi Musiiwa
IT is a blistering hot Thursday afternoon and a flustered 16-year-old Rachel Zvinei, from Mbizo high density suburb in Kwekwe, stare helplessly at her ailing mother who is now on life support at Kwekwe District Hospital.
Rachel’s mother has been battling for life at the Hospital for over six months and albeit doctors doing the best to their ability, their efforts have been in vain as she writhes in agony.
To the religious lass, only God can save her now.
There seemed to be light at the end of the tunnel for Rachel after receiving the news that one of the country’s much venerated mighty-men-of-God, Prophetic Healing and Deliverance (PHD) Ministries church leader, Prophet Walter Magaya was coming to the gold mining town of Kwekwe.
At long last salvation was on the way. Or so she thought.
Rachel prepared herself for what was supposed to be the greatest moments of her seemingly distressful life.
To see her mother regain consciousness was her only wish.
On the fateful day Rachel took her beloved mother’s photo and braved the night to seek divine intervention.
However, joy turned to gloom for Rachel when she died after being trampled by fellow congregants following a stampede soon after the church service which claimed 10 other lives.
About 60 other people were also injured.
She became a martyr of barren hope as her mother did not recover while at the same time she lost her life.
This graceful touching tale has left her relatives in shock and disbelief considering that she died trying to save another life.
Nevermind the fact that these said relatives also lost two other close family members.
Rachel’s uncle, Mr Sydney Munezvi narrated the ordeal near tears as he failed to come to grips with his niece’s untimely and tragic death.
For Mr Munezvi it was deeply saddening that his niece had left home with the anticipation of saving her mother’s life unknowing that she too would not be coming back.
“Her (Rachel) mother is not well and she has been in hospital for quite some time.
“When Rachel went to the night service she wanted Prophet Magaya to heal her mother or give her anointing oil so that her mother would recover.
“Unfortunately, there was stampede after the service and she was trampled by other congregants after she lost her balance while being pushed by others.
“We later learnt that she did not make it when people tried to render first aid.
“What is disheartening is that her mother is still in hospital and she died trying to save her,” he said.
Some of the bereaved families demanded an inquest so that police establish what transpired on the fateful day and end the speculation and different versions surrounding the circumstances.
Some blamed the police for failing to control the crowd after forcing them to use one exit point.
Mr Edward Nyamayedenga whose uncle is now deceased said there was need for police to carry investigations so that what transpired can finally come out.
A visibly angry Nyamayedenga said people must not speculate on what transpired but the police should come out open and tell the public what happened so that people know who was at fault.
Ms Felistas Matizanadzo, who lost her nephew Tamuka Chivasa (11) also concurred that there was need for investigations to be carried to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the tragedy.
She suspects foul play.
“We really need to know what happened to our nephew because the post-mortem indicates that Tamuka died of suffocation and could have been strangled.
“Now we don’t know what really happened because people are saying they were trampled in a stampede.
“There is really need for serious investigations to be carried out,” she said.
Some people have alleged that police fired teargas into the crowd resulting in the stampede.
Other bereaved families shared the same sentiments.
Mr John Moyo of Mbizo in Kwekwe whose wife, Ms Cynthia Katsholo (46) died on the spot after she was also trampled by fellow congregants in the stampede said he was failing to come to grips with death of his wife.
“We went together to the crusade that night.
“On our way out people at the back started pushing while the police were also forcing us to go back into the stadium so that they would conduct a head count.
“It was then that my wife fell to the ground and she was trampled by people who were now trying to force their way out after bringing down the precast wall.
“Police failed to control the situation because they must have announced that they wanted to conduct a head count,” he said.
However police have denied firing teargas but said it was a gas stove which exploded soon after the service resulting in the stampede.
Some claim that there was chaos outside the stadium when Prophet Magaya was about to leave the venue after members of the Madzibaba Apostolic Sect blocked his way arguing that he was not supposed to pass through their church shrine.
A member of the PHD security team, Mr Fanuel Kanyoka confirmed the possibility as he said the sect members did block the prophet’s way out of the venue and there was commotion.
Weeks have passed since this tragedy but people still have lots of answered questions – some are even arguing – may be the people of Kwekwe dont matter that much because if this had happened in Harare or Bulawayo, all hell would have broken loose.
