Dead body 'refuses' to fit in coffin

A Mutasa family has been left shaken after a bizarre incident in which the body of a deceased woman allegedly failed to fit into a coffin at a local funeral parlour, deepening long-standing claims of spiritual misfortune within the household.

The incident involving the Sango family of Mutasa has since escalated into a matter before Chief Mutasa's community court, with relatives divided over whether the challenges facing the family are spiritual or circumstantial.

According to family members, the disturbing funeral episode occurred when the body of the deceased, a married woman and niece within the family, could not initially fit into a coffin during burial preparations. The situation reportedly forced relatives to perform a traditional ritual in the kitchen, after which the body was eventually placed in the coffin for burial.

The family says the incident is part of a wider pattern of misfortunes that have affected them for years, including marital breakdowns, illness, and the unresolved disappearance of former village head Lennos Sango, who vanished in 2014.

A skull believed to be his was later discovered and buried, but relatives say they have never achieved closure, and believe the family has since been plagued by unexplained hardships.

Testifying before the court, family head Clava Sango said the funeral incident required traditional intervention after the body initially failed to fit in the coffin.

"My niece was brought back home sick and later died. When we tried to bury her, her body could not fit into the coffin. After rituals were performed in the kitchen, she eventually fit," he said.

He added that the family has since sought help from a traditional healer, though consultations have been costly and have deepened internal tensions.

"We were told I was harbouring my late brother's spirit. The consultations and cleansing demands have become expensive and difficult to manage," he said.

The family reportedly paid thousands of US dollars to a traditional healer, Shingirai Mukotsanjera, in search of explanations for their misfortunes, but disagreements over interpretations of the consultations have widened divisions.

Younger relatives have accused Clava Sango of delaying efforts to resolve the matter, arguing that his leadership role obliges him to guide the family toward a collective solution.

"We are not accusing him, but as the head of the family, he must lead the process so we can understand what is happening," said nephew Paul Sango.

However, Clava maintains that financial constraints and differing interpretations of events have slowed progress, while insisting he bears no responsibility for the family's troubles.

Presiding over the matter, Chief Mutasa urged the family to pursue unity and collective consultation rather than placing blame on individuals, directing them to return once they had engaged traditional healers together.

The case has been adjourned, with the family expected to report back after further consultations, as they continue seeking clarity over the long-standing misfortunes that have gripped their household.