Village chief demands money for body viewing

Chief Marange was allegedly humiliated and asked to leave at the funeral of Never Chinowaita in Bocha Marange under Chinowaita village yesterday.

Never Chinowaita suddenly died while serving a customer at Vhumba Hardware at Sakubva Musika in Mutare on 6 April.

After Chief Marange was notified of the funeral, he came and demanded $5 for body viewing. This did not go well with Chinowaita family members who were moaning their fellow family member. They told Chief Marange that they did not call him for money but for the funeral.

However, Chief Marange persisted that he needed that money and threatened that the body will not be burried and that his people will disperse leaving Chinowaita family members only.

This resulted in a squabble and instead Chief Marange was ordered to leave. He was told that he has no right to stop the burial since the Registrar General has already given them the burial order.

He was also urged to always follow the constitution, section 282, Functions of Traditional leaders and being guided accordingly in order to stop misunderstandings in the future.

Both the family members and the Villagers ignored chief's order and the body was buried

Meanwhile, Chief Marange also threatened that clothes of the diseased will not be dispersed and Chinowaita family made a police report against the uncalled action of Chief Marange.