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Leeroy and Anesu Mukoti, the two Alexandra Park Primary School pupils who died in a car accident along Golden Stairs Road in Harare last Friday

Crime Reporter
THE two Alex Park Primary School pupils who were killed last Friday morning when the car their father was driving was side-swiped by another vehicle which had failed to stop at a traffic intersection in Harare were buried yesterday at Glen Forest Memorial Park.Anesu (6) and Leeroy Mukoti (8) — died on the spot after their father’s Mercedes Benz rammed into a Muzeze tree that had a hollow housing bees at the intersection of Golden Stairs and Dorset roads.

Their father, Pastor Charles Mukoti from the Celebration Church Ministries International Sunningdale branch, was attacked by bees as he crawled out of the wreckage.

Pastor Mukoti is still admitted at the Avenues Clinic where he is reported to be in a stable condition while his eldest son Zvikomborero — who escaped with minor injuries — was discharged on Sunday.

A family spokesperson, Mr Jacob Chivava, yesterday said hundreds of people, including parents of the teenager who was driving the BMW that collided with Pastor Mukoti’s car, attended both the church service at the Celebration Centre in Borrowdale and the burial yesterday.

Schoolchildren and their parents from Alexandra Primary School also attended the emotional send-off of the boys.
“The church service was held at Celebration Centre at around 10:30am and the boys’ father came at around 11:30am in a Mars ambulance for both the service and the burial.

“He is now in a stable condition although he is still admitted at the hospital,” he said.
Mr Chivava said Pastor Mukoti was yesterday operated on the right leg which was fractured during the accident.

Mrs Primrose Chivava, his sister, confirmed that Takudzwa Imbayago’s (18) parents and relatives also attended the burial.
“The pupils made a presentation and sang a song during the church service,” Mrs Chivava said.

Several relatives yesterday said they were deeply saddened by the loss. Some of the relatives sent their condolence messages via the burial programme.

“I pray you are shining in heaven my boys,” read Sekuru Davy’s message.
“May you rest in peace my boys.

“You will always be in my heart,” wrote Aunty Hazel in South Africa.
Another relative identified as Themba wrote, “All will be well.

“Let’s stick together like always.”
“You will always be in our hearts, we will love and miss you forever,” said Aunty Mai Wise.

Uncle Leslie wrote, “I will miss you so much boys and (will) never forget the way you would beat me at playing computer games.”
“I will miss you both, its been so short a time we have been together. May the Lord give you happiness,” wrote Muzukuru              Davy.

The Mukoti family said they were deeply thankful to everyone who had been there for them. Meanwhile Imbayago, who was driving the BMW, is likely to appear in court soon facing charges of culpable homicide once investigations have been completed.

Acting National Traffic spokesperson Assistant Inspector Luckmore Chakanza yesterday confirmed.
“We are still investigating the case and it is our hope that by Thursday we would have completed the investigations and compiled a docket for the accused to appear in court,” he said.

As part of the investigations, police would today visit the scene of the accidents for evaluation before compiling reports from the Vehicle Inspection Department and the Central Vehicle Registry, to check whether or not Takudzwa has previous convictions.

VID have since inspected both the vehicles. By yesterday it was still not clear whether the BMW and the Mercedes Benz collided.
It is alleged that the BMW was due South in Dorset Road while the Mercedes Benz was in Golden Stairs from the central business district and going in the northern direction.

The BMW had no passengers and on approaching the intersection, it is alleged that the two vehicles collided with the BMW hitting the rear-right passenger door of the Mercedes Benz and finally hitting a tree.

Two passengers aged eight and six in the Mercedes Benz were schoolchildren on their way to school and were trapped while the other escaped with some injuries.

The driver of the Mercedes Benz survived only to be attacked by bees.  Police have appealed to motorists to exercise caution when approaching intersections.