A gemstone dealer based in Chunya District, Mbeya Region, Mr Geofrey Mwankenja, has donated more than TSh 5 million to support the families of six secondary school students who were killed after being hit by a passenger bus on July 26.
The students, all from Chalangwa Secondary School, were reportedly on a routine morning exercise when they were struck by a Safina Company bus en route from Chunya to Mbeya.
The tragic incident has sent shockwaves across the region, prompting renewed calls for stricter road safety measures.
Speaking during a farewell ceremony held at the school grounds on Saturday, Mr Mwankenja expressed deep sorrow over the incident, noting that the children’s dreams had been abruptly cut short.
"I am heartbroken by the loss of these young lives. I urge parents and guardians to keep their children in prayer as we remember them. May their souls rest in peace," he said.
He also appealed to drivers to exercise greater caution, especially when driving through residential or school zones.
“This accident was a result of the driver’s negligence. I urge all drivers to be vigilant and pay close attention to their surroundings to prevent such heartbreaking losses,” Mwankenja added.
The District Commissioner of Chunya, Mr Mbaraka Batenga, led hundreds of mourners in paying final respects to the six students.
He described the incident as a grave tragedy and ordered a thorough investigation into both the driver's conduct and the operations of Safina Company.
“The government will shoulder the funeral costs. I have instructed law enforcement to locate and arrest the driver responsible for this crash. We will also conduct a comprehensive investigation into the company, especially considering this is the second fatal incident involving one of their buses,” said Mr Batenga.
The farewell ceremony drew a large crowd, including parents, teachers, fellow students, relatives, and community members. Emotions ran high as the six coffins were lined up at the school grounds, with mourners struggling to hold back tears.
Local leaders and residents have since called for enhanced enforcement of traffic regulations, particularly in school zones, to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
Authorities confirmed that the students died instantly at the scene, and efforts are ongoing to trace the driver, who fled after the accident. The incident remains under police investigation.