Prisoner officer commits suicide; hubby barred from burial

An unemployed man from Zvishavane was barred from setting foot at the funeral of his wife who had committed suicide by throwing herself under a moving bus.

Nyarai Sibanda (31) who was a prison officer in Zvishavane died on Saturday at Parirenyatwa hospital where she was admitted after being transferred from Zvishavane General Hospital.

Prosper Dhambuza was married to Sibanda who reportedly threw herself into an oncoming Kukurakurerwa bus along Masvingo-Zvishavane highway near Zvishavane Police station. There was drama at Zvishavane Prison compound on Thursday as Dhambuza and his relatives numbering more than 30 were barred from the funeral.

Sources said Sibanda committed suicide because she was angry that her unemployed husband had registered their newly acquired vehicle in his name.

However, Dhambuza disputed the allegations and said his wife had had a long running wrangle with her sister who was not happy that she was married to an unemployed man.

It is even said that the mourners got lost on their way to their rural home and arrived the next morning. Dhambuza confirmed to The Mirror that they were barred together with his 35 relatives from travelling with the funeral services bus as well as attending the burial and they received death threats from the angry relatives.

"Yes I just heard they were lost on their way to the burial" said Dhambuza.