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to provide funeral assistance to the family through Zanu-PF’s Harare Province.
Simbisai Mumango (26) and her children — Rumbidzai (6) and Nyasha (18 months) — were fatally struck near the giant stadium after joining tens of thousands of other people to celebrate 33 years of independence.

Simbisai and Rumbidzai died on the spot, while Nyasha died a few hours after admission to Parirenyatwa Hospital.
“I talked to President Mugabe today over the phone and he was saddened by the incident,” said Simbisai’s mother Mrs Scholastica Mumango.
“President Mugabe talked to me on the phone and offered to assist us. He was concerned and devastated by the news. This has brought comfort to our family.”
This was one of many grim occasions that President Mugabe has taken it upon himself to console a grieving and ordinary family, a role which has become synonymous with his humble, but extraordinary personality.

Many hailed the President for his kindness and leadership when it comes to connecting with the grass roots.
The President has in the past offered hope and comfort to relatives of victims of various accidents, among them farmers, schoolchildren and people from varied backgrounds.
“This shows the way His Excellency feels about the people and he was very devastated,” said Media, Information and Publicity Minister Webster Shamu, who is also Zanu-PF’s national political commissar.

“The President also said there was a need for the police to control traffic during such events and that measures should be put in place for people to cross the roads safely.”
Cde Shamu visited the Mumango home yesterday alongside the Zanu- PF Harare provincial leadership led by chairman Cde Amos Midzi.
He delivered a message of the financial, food and logistical support from President Mugabe and Zanu-PF.
Cde Shamu said the early morning telephone call by President Mugabe to the bereaved family was unprecedented in the history of statesmanship.
“Very few statesman take time to speak to families,” he said.
“We take pride in what President Mugabe has done.”

Cde Shamu said the death of the mother and her two children demonstrated her patriotism and love for her children to know the country’s history.
He said President Mugabe indicated a desire that in future venues of national celebrations should be blocked to outside traffic.
Cde Midzi said the family was assisted with food and logistics for the funeral.

By late yesterday, Harare acting provincial Governor Mr Alfred Tome was already co-ordinating efforts to assist the family.
Mrs Mumango said she was informed about the incident by Simbisai’s friend whom she had gone to the stadium with.
When she arrived at the scene, nurses were trying to resuscitate Simbisai.

“I was ordered to sit down by some of the police officers and soldiers who were also attending the scene. A few minutes later I saw them covering her head and legs with a cloth and that is when I realised that she had died,” said Mrs Mumango.
Simbisai’s brother Mazvita (20) said he was still in a state of shock.

“Yesterday (Thursday) I last saw her excited children as they discussed the anticipated entertainment line-up at the celebrations,” he said.
“They talked of the planes, helicopters and horses among other entertainment activities which were lined up for the event.”
Police said they arrested Adel Maremera, the driver of the Mazda B2200 truck which killed Simbisai and her children.
Maremera is alleged to have failed to give way at the pedestrian crossing at the entrance of the stadium before hitting the three.
The incident occurred at around 5.30pm.

Police spokesperson Superintendent Paul Nyathi urged motorists to observe pedestrian crossings to avoid running over people.
Burial arrangements for the three were still to be announced.