LIKE MOTHER, LIKE DAUGHTER
TEENAGE mom Yeukai Dandara died the same way her mother passed on 16 years ago.
And, as fate might have it, she was turning 16 this year.
Yeukai was laid to rest yesterday alongside her relatives in Dandara village, Murehwa.
Her twins were with her aunt, Evernice Dandara, during her burial.
Her uncle, Stanford Dandara, said the family has been shocked by the similarity in the way the mother and daughter died and they will soon discuss the issue.
“I am heartbroken by my daughter’s death. She has followed the same way her mother died after giving birth to her 16 years ago.
“Her father also died while she was still young and I took the responsibility to take care of her.
“She was my young brother’s third child, with a different woman, but we loved and treated her as our own,” said Stanford.
He said Yeukai eloped to stay with Tatenda Zhanje when she was 14.
He said Yeukai was set to turn 16 this year.
Stanford said he was against Yeukai’s relationship with Tatenda, a relative who allegedly raped her and forced her to move to Glenwood in Harare.
“I never blessed their union, I was against it and we were never consulted on any bride price by the Zhanjes.
“Now, that we have buried our child, we will only wait and see if they will compensate us for the death of such a young girl.
“Isu tangotora mwana wedu tikaviga, ivo ndivo vacharonga kuti vodii kana vachizouya kuzoroora hameno.
“Vana ndivo vanavo vachavarera nenzira dzavo,” said Stanford.
He said there was tension between the two families.
He accused the Zhanje family of dumping Yeukai’s body at a mortuary and not paying the costs on Tuesday night.
The Dandara family had a hard time finding transport to take Yeukai’s body to their homestead.
Stanford said they were now waiting to receive Yeukai’s belongings, which were due yesterday, for distribution to her relatives, as per custom.