Dead man weeps at own funeral

A family in Hauna, Manicaland, has been left searching for answers after mourners reportedly saw what appeared to be tears streaming from a 26-year-old man's eyes as his body lay in a coffin, before unusual marks and footprints were discovered around his freshly covered grave the following morning.

Walter Kupemba (Jnr) was buried last Friday after dying at Victoria Chitepo Provincial Hospital on Wednesday following a sudden deterioration in his health.

His mother, Gladys Tangwena, said the family was struggling to come to terms with his death and the unexplained incidents surrounding his funeral.

Tangwena said funeral parlour workers initially alerted the family that tears appeared to be flowing from her son's eyes while his body lay in the coffin. She said she later witnessed the same phenomenon when the coffin was opened.

"They wiped the tears away, but when my sisters and I later performed some traditional rituals observed by a deceased person's mother, the tears started flowing again," she said.

She described the experience as heartbreaking, saying the tears appeared particularly pronounced around his right eye.

Several mourners reportedly witnessed the phenomenon, with the family eventually proceeding with the burial despite the apparent tears.

However, their distress deepened the following morning when they returned to the grave for rumuko, a traditional ritual performed after burial.

Tangwena said they discovered unusual marks on the freshly covered grave, including what appeared to be footprints leading away from it.

"There were marks on the upper end of the grave that looked as if someone had sat there. We also noticed footprints leading away from the grave. Some appeared human, while others resembled those of a four-legged animal," she said.

A stone placed at the head of the grave had also apparently been moved.

Describing her son as hardworking and ambitious, Tangwena said he had been working in Sagambe and was building a seven-roomed house before his untimely death.

She said Walter returned home complaining of a toothache, but his condition quickly worsened. He subsequently developed a swollen neck and lost his ability to speak.

By the time he was admitted to Victoria Chitepo Provincial Hospital, he could only communicate through sign language.

Tangwena said the family was now living in fear, adding that she had even considered leaving their home with her two daughters because of the unexplained circumstances.

She also alleged that her son had previously been involved in a dispute with one of his uncles, whom she claimed had threatened him.

Walter's uncle, Walter Kupemba (Snr), confirmed that relatives and community members had witnessed what appeared to be tears flowing from the deceased's eyes during the funeral.

He said the family wanted to establish what had happened and understand the circumstances surrounding the young man's death.

Kupemba revealed that relatives had started consulting traditional healers, with one expected to visit their homestead to help them seek answers.

He also confirmed seeing the unusual marks on the grave during the rumuko ceremony.

The family further intends to visit Sagambe to establish whether Walter Jnr had experienced any disputes or difficulties before falling ill.