Family offered $5 for funeral expenses

 A  Karoi family was offered a mere $5 to buy cabbages, two drums of water and 11 loaves of bread  towards funeral  expenses of a woman - Chiedza Mandizvidza (59) who died after being hit by a vehicle that Clyna Trading  officials had threw deadly spikes on.

That was Tuesday.

Her son Patrick (31) is admitted at Karoi District Hospital where his condition is reportedly stable. Another three people were injured, but they have since been treated and discharged.

According to the Herald, Clyna Trading is in partnership with Karoi Town Council to manage traffic in the town.

The family is blaming the company for the death of their relative after she was hit while the driver was trying to avoid running over the spikes.

Sources said a row erupted between the family and Clyna Trading over the "meagre" assistance, resulting in the firm offering another $30 towards the purchasing of relish.

"It was after family members enquired how the mourners would be fed on $5, that another $30 was handed over yesterday," said the source.

The firm promised to provide $500 to meet all the funeral expenses, which it had not delivered by yesterday.

The parties were deadlocked after officials indicated that the money would be deposited into the bank account of one of the family members employed by the Karoi Town Council.

The money would be deducted from the worker over a long period.

Karoi Residents Trust chairman Mr Never Gasho said operations of the vehicle clamping company should be reviewed.

"As far as we are concerned there is nothing meaningful that is going to council from the arrangement," he said.

"The deal is shrouded in secrecy and if you ask what council has so far received out of it, you do not get an answer."

"Its sad that we have to lose lives in this way, but it is important that stakeholders meet and come up with ways of managing traffic that do not pose a danger to people," he said.

In the accident on Tuesday, the vehicle went on to hit and injure four other pedestrians — three of whom are from the same family as Mrs Mandizvidza.

Police fired shots in the air and teargas canisters to disperse a mob that torched a council vehicle in protest against her death. She died at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals where she had been transferred to owing to the injuries she sustained.

Her son Patrick (31) is admitted at Karoi District Hospital where his condition is reportedly stable. Another three people were injured, but they have since been treated and discharged.