GBADO, CONGO (May 13, 2008) \u2013 Two leaders in the CEUM Gbado Gboketsa school system who have been active in the Covenant Church of Congo (CEUM) have died as the result of injuries sustained when their motorcycle was struck by a truck on Monday.
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\nMr. Mabele, principal of the CEUM Gbado Gboketsa Elementary school, was killed instantly. Mr. Bomina, principal of one of the CEUM high schools at Gbado Gboketsa, died a few hours later of severe injuries.<\/p>\n
The two were operating a motorcycle en route to a meeting with government authorities concerning school salaries when they stopped at an intersection to wait for traffic to clear, according to an email from Keith Gustafson, Congo country coordinator with Covenant World Mission. \u201cA large truck was coming down the road . . . and they decided to wait,\u201d Gustafson writes.<\/p>\n
Mabele got off the motorcycle. At the same time, an approaching British American Tobacco truck appeared not to have any brakes and the driver lost control, striking Mabele and then the motorcycle carrying Bomina.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is a blow to the CEUM schools as both these men were good leaders at Gbado Gboketsa and had a solid history in the CEUM,\u201d Gustafson writes. Mabele was a member of the CEUM Executive Council.<\/p>\n
Mrs. Mabele had given birth just three days earlier. A truck with some CEUM leaders left from Gemena to go to Gbadolite, and CEUM President Mossai Sanguma cancelled plans for a trip to Kinshasa so that he could go to be with the family.<\/p>\n
\u201cI told President Sanguma that people were already praying for these men and their families,\u201d Gustafson notes, \u201cand he asked that you know how much the CEUM appreciates your prayers.\u201d<\/p>\n