In a tragic incident reported on Thursday, a pupil in Zimbabwe was killed during his school assembly by a bullet accidentally fired from an anti-craft gun 7km away.
Another child was seriously injured in the incident that happened on Wednesday, the last day of term at Delamour High School, about 60km north-west of Harare, reported the state-controlled Herald newspaper.
A spokesperson for the Zimbabwe National Army told the Herald troops from the nearby Inkomo Barracks were on a training exercise.
Lieutenant Colonel Maphios Makotere was quoted as saying, “A live bullet from an anti-aircraft gun flew over a catch and trajected [sic] for over 7km, travelling towards the children where it hit them while they were at school assembly.”
Readers of the paper have reacted with shock with one calling for counselling to be provided for staff and other pupils who were in assembly at the time. “I can imagine the horror of seeing your friend/schoolmate dying,” the reader posted online.
Investigations are under way.
Inkomo Barracks houses the Parachute Battalion, part of the Zimbabwe National Army’s Special Forces.
