Two die in sugar stampede

"... On Wednesday a huge crowd stampeded into a shopping complex where some sugar had been delivered and in the chaos a 15year old boy and a 35year old security guard died. The government’s Chronicle newspaper confirmed the tragic incident in a report Thursday, saying the stampede was “caused by hordes of people who were intending to buy sugar at Entumbane Shopping Complex in Bulawayo.”...

Zenzele spoke to several witnesses who said the security guard opened a gate to let the shoppers in, and they pushed forward and knocked over a brick wall. The boy is reported to have tried climbing over and wound up under the bricks as the wall fell over. The witnesses said the victims did not get help immediately.

According to The Chronicle, the schoolboy was a Form Two pupil at Sobukhazi High School in Mzilikazi. He died at Mpilo Central Hospital after fracturing both legs and an arm. The security guard did not stand a chance. The report said he tried running as the wall fell toward him but was not fast enough. Several people were injured, and some with minor injuries were carried home by relatives.