The Sunday News
Sukulwenkosi Dube
A FORM Two pupil from Zenzele Secondary School in Bulilima District died after a scotch cart he was riding in overturned and hit him on the head while he was on his way to harvest crops in the fields in the company of a friend.
Mfowabo Ncube (14) of Dupute area had been sent to the fields by his father, Boy Ncube, on Tuesday last week.
Headman Ndolwane whose jurisdiction covers the area confirmed the incident.
He said the boy was travelling with his friend in a donkey drawn scotch cart when it overran a thick log which was along a foot path and it overturned.
“The two young boys were all riding in the scotch cart and there was no one leading the donkeys. They were on their way to collect some crops from the fields,” he said.
Headman Ndolwane said the scotch cart overturned and hit Mfowabo on the head and he started bleeding profusely.
He said the boy died a few minutes later before he could get any medical assistance.
He said Mfowabo’s friend escaped unharmed as he managed to jump off the scotch cart after it had hit the log.
Headman Ndolwane said the matter was reported to the police who attended the scene.
He said the boy was buried at his parent’s homestead in Dupute area.
He described the incident as a tragedy to the whole community as scotch cart accidents had claimed the lives of a number of teenagers.
“A number of children, some in primary and others in secondary school have died in scotch cart accidents. We have lost a number of youngsters,” he said.
A grade four pupil at Male Primary School in Bulilima District recently died after a scotch cart he was riding in overturned and crushed his body.
On the day of the incident the 10-year-old boy, Descent Ndlovu left in a scotch cart headed for the shops to search for his uncle without alerting his parents.
On his way back after failing to locate his uncle one of the cart wheels hit a tree stump causing the scotch cart to overturn and his body got trapped underneath.
In another incident another 10-year-old Bulilima boy from Ndolwane was crushed to death after a scotch cart he was riding in overturned and hit him on the head.
Simon Ncube who was a Grade Five pupil was on his way to the shops in the company of his siblings when one of the scotch cart wheels hit a tree stump causing it to overturn.
He was thrown out of the scotch cart and his body got trapped underneath.
Chief Masendu whose area of jurisdiction covers the village where the 14-year-old teenager was killed said some scotch cart accidents could be avoided if parents adhered to regulations.
“Parents need to be strict and ensure that small children do not ride in scotch carts unmonitored. People also have to learn that to avoid loss of life there has to be someone leading the animals.
“If people observe these regulations we will not have these frequent fatal scotch cart accidents that we witness in broad daylight,” he said.
