News / National
Abducted corpse taken for new burial place
20 Mar 2012 at 22:40hrs | Views
Relatives of a deceased woman stormed her funeral service in Tshapfunde Village in Beitbridge, removed the body from a casket, wrapped it in a blanket and took it to Chiredzi. Mourners watched as the in-laws nearly fought over the burial of the woman. The incident occurred at around 8am at Maphandabele area some 35km north of Beitbridge town where mourners had gathered to pay their last respects to the deceased.
It is understood that things got to a head when Barbara Mahlekete who was married to Tererai Mushipe died on Friday.
"We were about to take the body to the grave when suddenly Barbara's relatives arrived in a pickup truck.
"They demanded access to the house where the body was lying at the same time indicating that they will not allow their daughter to be buried at Tshapfuche Village.
"The Mushipes tried to resist resulting in pushing and shoving. Later on the Mahlekete family kicked the door to where the body was being kept open. They opened the coffin and took the body, which they wrapped in a blanket indicating they would bury their daughter in the Save area.
"They also accused their in-laws of undermining their authority and being insensitive. Actually they said the Mushipes neglected their daughter during her hour of need when she was sick and wanted to cover up by buying her an expensive coffin.
"The body was then taken to Beitbridge where another funeral wake was held en-route to Save area in Chiredzi district," said an eyewitness identified only as Mr Rugare.
A relative of the late Barbara who preferred anonymity confirmed the incident yesterday.
She said her cousin fell sick sometime last year and became blind.
"We took her and have been caring for her until she passed on. To make matters worse the Mushipes made funeral arrangements without even notifying us.
"It is sad that they neglected my cousin at her hour of need now they want to glorify that by buying her an expensive coffin. When they got the news that she had passed on they didn't even have the courtesy to send condolences.
"Instead they collected her body from the mortuary for burial at Tshapfuche without the knowledge of her parents.
"We have collected that body from them and are taking it for burial at Save area in Chiredzi," she said.
Efforts to get a comment from the Mushipe family yesterday were in vain.
It is understood that things got to a head when Barbara Mahlekete who was married to Tererai Mushipe died on Friday.
"We were about to take the body to the grave when suddenly Barbara's relatives arrived in a pickup truck.
"They demanded access to the house where the body was lying at the same time indicating that they will not allow their daughter to be buried at Tshapfuche Village.
"The Mushipes tried to resist resulting in pushing and shoving. Later on the Mahlekete family kicked the door to where the body was being kept open. They opened the coffin and took the body, which they wrapped in a blanket indicating they would bury their daughter in the Save area.
"They also accused their in-laws of undermining their authority and being insensitive. Actually they said the Mushipes neglected their daughter during her hour of need when she was sick and wanted to cover up by buying her an expensive coffin.
"The body was then taken to Beitbridge where another funeral wake was held en-route to Save area in Chiredzi district," said an eyewitness identified only as Mr Rugare.
A relative of the late Barbara who preferred anonymity confirmed the incident yesterday.
She said her cousin fell sick sometime last year and became blind.
"We took her and have been caring for her until she passed on. To make matters worse the Mushipes made funeral arrangements without even notifying us.
"It is sad that they neglected my cousin at her hour of need now they want to glorify that by buying her an expensive coffin. When they got the news that she had passed on they didn't even have the courtesy to send condolences.
"Instead they collected her body from the mortuary for burial at Tshapfuche without the knowledge of her parents.
"We have collected that body from them and are taking it for burial at Save area in Chiredzi," she said.
Efforts to get a comment from the Mushipe family yesterday were in vain.
Source - TH
