Corpse sheds tears, grave mysteriously fills up with soil

Mysterious happenings yesterday shocked Epworth residents when the corpse of a 33-year-old woman allegedly shed tears and the grave that had been dug for her filled up with soil the next day.

These weird developments at the late Tsitsi Tekere's funeral were pointed to the late woman's avenging spirit. She is said to have died a bitter woman after being tormented at the hands of her husband only identified as Mutsambwe.

"A lot of strange things are taking place at this funeral and it is clear to see that Tsitsi's soul was tormented hence she is avenging. At first on our way to Harare from Chivhu where Tsitsi died, the car that was carrying her body had a breakdown. What really shocked everyone who was there was that the jack that was used in removing the tyre broke into pieces raising eyebrows. As we went on with our journey, we discovered that tears started rolling down Tsitsi's cheeks," added one mourner.

Other schools of thought suggested that Tsitsi was bitter because she had stated that she wanted to be buried in Chivhu not Epworth.

"We got here yesterday (Monday) and the guys digging the grave came to across a very big stone. However, when the stone was removed the police and local authorities came and arrested the gravediggers saying it was illegal," said another mourner.

When they returned to the grave the next morning, the grave had been filled up. "When we came in the morning to lay her to rest, we discovered that the grave had been filled with soil again. All these mysterious obstacles that we were facing were clear enough that something fishy was happening," said another mourner.

Speaking at the funeral service, Mbuya Mupamhanga, who had been staying with Tsitsi before said Tsitsi died a tormented soul because she was ill-treated by her husband.

"We went ahead and buried Tsitsi here (Epworth) but that was not her choice, she had told me a few days before she died that she wanted to be buried in Chivhu because she did not want her husband to attend the funeral service. She was very bitter with the way her husband used to treat her. She told me that her husband would only let her have one meal a day," said Mbuya Mupamhanga.

However, the late Tsitsi's husband Mutsambwe said he took good care of his wife.

"My wife has been sick for a very long time, she started having chronic headaches eight years ago and I have been looking after her by myself. It was only recently when she decided to go and stay in Chivhu but nothing bad had happened between us, we still loved each other," he claimed.

Meanwhile, Tsitsi's father Rufaro Tekere said he was not happy because his son-in-law NEVER paid lobola. He had threatened to dump the corpse on his son-in-law.

"I have decided to bury my daughter only because I am afraid that her body might rot. This is now the fourth day she has been at the mortuary otherwise I would have dumped her at Mutsambwe's place. I don't think there is anything mysterious about the filling up of the grave. I strongly suspect that the man who built his house seven meters away from my daughter's grave is responsible for this. Even though I don't have enough evidence, I am suspecting him because he is the one who made a confrontation with us over the matter yesterday," he said.

At the time of going to press, unconfirmed reports had it that the coffin that had been lowered into the soil was spotted on top of the grave. Traditionalists who spoke to our news crew said a 'crying corpse' was not a new phenomenon but was a mere sign that the deceased died with a bitter heart.