Dead man's spirit names people who murdered him in 1977

It is common belief in mainly the Southern African culture that a murdered person will return from the dead for a second chance to track down his killers and bring them to justice.

This is true to the goings on in the Makaha family in Mutasa District where the spirit of their late grandfather, Raphael Zvenyika Makaha is manifesting itself through his namesake and grandchild, Lincoln Zvenyika Makaha, demanding to be accorded a peaceful rest as well as exposing the hands behind his mysterious disappearance in 1977.

His family is leaving no stone unturned to put all pieces of their grandfather's disappearance jig-saw puzzle together. To them, justice has to be done and the exhumation of his remains will bring to finality the case that has brought a lot of suffering to the family. Some family members even claimed that they are suffering a lot of misfortunes because of the wandering Sekuru Makaha's spirit.

The family converged last week at their rural home and embarked on the gruesome exhumation exercise, which had entered its fourth day. Sekuru Makaha's medium claimed that his remains were buried last Saturday and the family members were busy at work as they had been briefed by Lincoln on the exact spot where their late relative had been buried.

Digging the rocky area proved to be a challenge, but the families were buoyed by the fact that they had managed to retrieve a sack, which their grandfather claimed to have been in possession of when he was allegedly murdered. Lincoln claimed that the work to exhume Sekuru Makaha's remains was being derailed by some family members who were using charms to blindfold others. He also claimed that those with dirty hands were working round the clock to ensure that his spirit was kept wandering in the wilderness.

"I have told you on numerous occasions that some of you have dirty hands and are doing everything possible to stop my exhumation. They are also sowing seeds of division in the family and are even declaring this a futile mission, but I will not rest until the truth is unveiled. Some are trying to send you on a wild goose chase by pointing at another place saying this is where I was buried, but that is all nonsense. I have suffered enough and I will fight to the bitter end. You should not cry foul when I unleash my wrath. What I urge is unity among family members because I also want my medium to rest," said Sekuru Makaha through his medium Lincoln.

In an interview, the family spokesperson, Edson Makaha, said they were prepared to find their grandfather's remains for proper reburial.

"We are determined to last the distance and ensure that our grandfather is accorded the rest he deserves. We have even bought a casket for the reburial. Despite the setbacks that we are facing, victory is certain. Our grandfather disappeared in 1977 after he was summoned to appear before a 'court' at Mundenda. It was at the height of the liberation struggle and he was summoned by war collaborators to the 'court'. His medium is naming Dubura Mundenda, Chekacheka and Pfidzai as the people who murdered him. Some of them have since confessed to their sins and we have video evidence to that effect."

"However, some of them are right now shifting goalposts and denying their involvement. We will explore all avenues to ensure that our grandfather's wishes are granted," he said.