Family fights over burial space

A GWERU family was embroiled in a nasty fight over the burial place of a South Africa-based man who died in the neighbouring country in January which saw the body going for three weeks in the mortuary as they engaged in a tug-of-war.

It is understood that Itai Mabheka (43) who was working in South Africa and staying with his wife, Ms Mukundweyi Gutu bought a house in Senga in Gweru where the couple would stay during holidays.

According to a police source, Mabheka allegedly died in South Africa in January and the body was repatriated to Zimbabwe and taken to Gweru awaiting burial.

“When the body came to Zimbabwe it was taken to his house in Senga for the funeral wake.

“While in Senga, Mabheka’s mother Mrs Maria Mabheka and siblings suggested that he be buried at Mtapa Cemetery as a matter of tradition since all other family members were buried there.

“Ms Gutu allegedly declined and told the family that he would be buried at Northgate Memorial Cemetery as she wanted to give him a decent burial.

“This angered the family and they left the funeral wake and told their daughter-in-law to proceed with the burial alone,” said the source.

The source said Ms Gutu then gave in and asked the family to move the body from Senga to Mtapa suburb where there was a family house.

“When the day of the burial came Gutu told the family that she had misplaced the burial order and the family could not proceed with the burial.

“The family then reported the matter to the police who came and tried to convince Gutu but she was adamant. The family could not be issued with a duplicate burial order at the RegistrarGeneral’s office.”

Police then asked Gweru Provincial Hospital to put the corpse in the mortuary until the matter was resolved.

The body spent four days at Gweru Provincial Hospital mortuary until the family agreed to bury Mabheka at the Memorial Cemetery.

“Ironically, the missing burial order was suddenly found. Mabheka was later buried after three weeks of fighting,” said the source.

Acting Midlands police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Mukwende confirmed the matter.

“We are still looking for the details of what really transpired.

“However, ideally when such things happen, we are involved just to advise the family and restore peace and sanity,” she said.