Woman's body eaten before burial

Sombre atmosphere yesterday engulfed the community of Magada in Epworth after the body of an elderly woman, who died in the early hours of yesterday morning, was eaten by "unseen things."

There was no immediate scientific or traditional explanation of the case with doctors saying the best explanation will come from pathologists. The phenomenon saw residents gathering around House No 942 where Margret Nziradzesango (78) lived for two years with her widowed daughter Mavis.

"My mother was well on Wednesday and she spent the day well with my children before we retired to bed. In the early hours of the morning, I noticed that she was not breathing," a visibly shaken Mavis said.

Margret had left her rural home in Gokwe to pay her condolences after the passing away of Mavis' husband.

"She had high blood pressure and only visited the local clinic once for her check up. When I covered her to wrap up the body I noticed that her face was being eaten away," the anguished Mavis said.

Frightened by what she saw, Mavis bolted outside the house and was even scared to take her two minor children who were sleeping in the same room. She called a neighbour to take the kids.

"When I got inside the room the old woman's body was changing in a frightening way and I noticed that the flesh on the face was missing and it looked like hot water had been poured on it, so I dropped the lamp and ran out. I don't even know what I am going to do. I do not have money to ferry the body to a mortuary let alone take body to the rural areas," she said.

Knowledge Gwenzi, one of the leaders in the community went around with a begging bowl along with some women so as to get money to help Mavis, but unfortunately they didn't get money, as most people do'nt have money yet.

"We only managed to collect some mealie-meal but who is going to eat the food? Everyone here is refusing to be at the funeral. People are just milling on the road side," Gwenzi said.

Mavis said she does not have any relatives in Harare as they are all out of town. She was overheard talking to  her brother in Gokwe saying, "Hameno henyu mukanonoka kuuya, munowana vapera kudyiwa."

"Isu hatikwanise kunorara ipapo. Anoda kuenda panhamo pacho anotorara ne salt mubhutsu," said another woman.

Mavis said she had reported the matter to the police but could not get any assistance from the police since they (the police) only ferry bodies of people who are murdered and not those who die of natural causes in their houses.

When the news crew arrived in the late afternoon Margret's body was still in the house and flesh on her stomach, face and hands had been eaten away.