Relatives refusing to attend funeral until lobola is paid

Relatives of the Headlands woman who last Friday fatally poisoned her three children - aged seven, four and three - and threw their bodies into a well before committing suicide are refusing to attend the funeral until outstanding lobola is paid.

Enia Jinjika of Village 4A in Zambara, also attempted to torch a Toyota Starlet belonging to her husband, Happiness Mhonda (38).

However, yesterday the spokesperson for the Mhonda family Mrs Charity Mhonda said the in-laws had refused to attend the funeral demanding payment.

"On Friday, Mhonda and some of our relatives went to Odzi to inform Jinjika's relatives about the incident,  but they said they wanted an outstanding amount of US$400. We are trying to raise the money so that they can come to attend the funeral and bury Jinjika and her children," she said.

She said Mhonda was prepared to negotiate with his in-laws since he had managed to raise US$300.

Mrs Mhonda said the bodies were still at Rusape General Hospital mortuary awaiting post mortem which is expected to be conducted tomorrow.

"It is our hope that once the post mortem has been conducted, we will bury them here (in Headlands) on Wednesday. I also think that by that time all the outstanding issues would have been cleared," she said.

National police spokesperson Chief Superintendent Paul Nyathi yesterday said police were still investigating the case.

The couple had a dispute over alleged infidelity.