Drama as dead man's lip disappears

THE incident sounds like something out of the wrong century, but it actually happened. 

Mourners at a funeral wake of 55-year-old Bernard Masikati from Gutu in Masvingo Province were greeted with the most undignified scene during body viewing when they discovered that part of his lower lip had been "mysteriously" cut off.

So scary was the sight of Masikati's corpse with a missing lower lip that some mourners with nervous dispositions reportedly fainted while paying their last respects.

The unmarried Masikati from Gono Village under Chief Makore who was staying alone reportedly died under "unclear" circumstances after he was bitten on the heel by a 3.1 metre long black mamba, which had "ambushed" him in his bedroom hut where he had gone to collect mealie-meal that he wanted to use to prepare his supper.

After the attack, Masikati reportedly started foaming from his mouth before experiencing breathing difficulties.

He was later taken to a local clinic where nurses who attended to him ruled out any chances of him surviving before they instructed his relatives to take him home to patiently wait for God's opportune time.

While waiting for his pre-announced death about 10 daring villagers gathered courage and ransacked his bedroom hut where they trapped the snake and killed it.

The epic battle to kill the venomous reptile reportedly lasted for about six hours.

The villagers later won the battle against the reptile after they first weakened it by repeatedly pouring boiling water on its head.

Surprisingly, soon after killing the serpent, Masikati also breathed his last.

As if that was not enough, Masikati's burial was later punctuated with drama when some relatives suggested that he should be buried together with the deadly snake that had killed him.

However, the reptile was later burnt after some traditionalists indicated that it was taboo for someone to be buried with a snake.

A day before he met his death, Masikati is alleged to have exchanged harsh words with a relative over a piece of land left behind by their late parents.

The relative is now being accused of having bewitched her brother after she allegedly threatened him during the verbal slur saying he was going to see what was going to happen to him.

According to another relative, Taurai Matarutse, speculation that the relative was the one allegedly responsible for the death of her brother went a gear up when she refused to give a grave-side speech despite spirited efforts by other family members to do so.

Matarutse maintained that Masikati's death was ostensibly a result of black magic practice.

"As a family we are saddened by Bernard's death which came a day after he was threatened by his sister following a dispute over a piece of land left behind by their late parents. Even before he breathed his last Bernard confided to us that he suspected that his sister had a hand with regards to the black mamba which had bitten him."

"He said he will die a happy man after he had seen the reptile which had bitten him having been killed."

"We gathered courage and trapped it inside his bedroom hut and fought it for about six hours. To our surprise soon after killing it, Bernard also breathed his last. We finally killed it after we weakened it by repeatedly pouring boiling water on its head. Everyone in the family now believes Bernard's words that his sister bewitched him after she refused to give a grave-side speech to explain what had happened to her brother. We are now preparing to meet as a family to see what action we can take towards her", said a visibly shocked Matarutse.