News / National
Dumped coffin causes a stir
17 Dec 2013 at 21:16hrs | Views
POLICE have launched an investigation after a coffin was found recently dumped in a bushy area along the Gweru-Chiwundura highway.
Local villagers said the dumped coffin was discovered about two weeks ago by some boys who were hunting wild animals.
There was no body in the coffin with termites feasting on it.
When news crew visited the area in Ndamba Village under Chief Gambiza on Tuesday, police were recording statements from local villagers who appeared to have no clue on how the coffin ended up in their area.
The village head, Raphael Ndamba, said they reported the matter to police after it emerged during a village meeting that there was a coffin which was found dumped in the area.
He said the area was yet to receive rainfalls with villagers now suspecting that the dumped coffin was the reason why the area was experiencing a rare dry spell.
"We have a serious problem in the area. There is a rare dry spell which is confined to two villages here. I convened a meeting to try and find out why there were no rains falling in this area when other surrounding areas were receiving rains. It then emerged during that meeting that there was a coffin which was dumped in the bush along the highway," he said.
Ndamba said he engaged the local chief with the intention of cleansing the area and the chief advised him to approach the police first regarding the coffin.
He said the police had given them the go-ahead to burn the coffin and cleanse the area.
"What is disturbing is that the dry spell is confined to this small area where the coffin was found dumped. We strongly feel that we need to conduct a traditional ceremony to cleanse the area as we suspect that this coffin could be the reason why we are not receiving rains in this area," he said.
Chief Gambiza yesterday said they would proceed to burn the coffin and conduct the cleansing ceremony.
"We are very much confused because of this strange happening in the area. We will burn the coffin and have a traditional ceremony because it's a taboo in our culture for a coffin to be found dumped in an area," he said.
Police in Gweru yesterday confirmed investigating the dumped coffin incident.
Local villagers said the dumped coffin was discovered about two weeks ago by some boys who were hunting wild animals.
There was no body in the coffin with termites feasting on it.
When news crew visited the area in Ndamba Village under Chief Gambiza on Tuesday, police were recording statements from local villagers who appeared to have no clue on how the coffin ended up in their area.
The village head, Raphael Ndamba, said they reported the matter to police after it emerged during a village meeting that there was a coffin which was found dumped in the area.
He said the area was yet to receive rainfalls with villagers now suspecting that the dumped coffin was the reason why the area was experiencing a rare dry spell.
"We have a serious problem in the area. There is a rare dry spell which is confined to two villages here. I convened a meeting to try and find out why there were no rains falling in this area when other surrounding areas were receiving rains. It then emerged during that meeting that there was a coffin which was dumped in the bush along the highway," he said.
Ndamba said he engaged the local chief with the intention of cleansing the area and the chief advised him to approach the police first regarding the coffin.
He said the police had given them the go-ahead to burn the coffin and cleanse the area.
"What is disturbing is that the dry spell is confined to this small area where the coffin was found dumped. We strongly feel that we need to conduct a traditional ceremony to cleanse the area as we suspect that this coffin could be the reason why we are not receiving rains in this area," he said.
Chief Gambiza yesterday said they would proceed to burn the coffin and conduct the cleansing ceremony.
"We are very much confused because of this strange happening in the area. We will burn the coffin and have a traditional ceremony because it's a taboo in our culture for a coffin to be found dumped in an area," he said.
Police in Gweru yesterday confirmed investigating the dumped coffin incident.
Source - Zimpapers
