Chiredzi killer doctor’s children still to be buried

THE bodies of two Chiredzi siblings who were allegedly killed by their father, William Phiri, a prominent medical doctor and sugar cane farmer in the Lowveld, are still at the mortuary with the burial date and burial place still to be decided.

Princess Phiri (3) and her brother Victor (seven months) were killed with a knife, allegedly by their father two weeks ago, while their two siblings — Ropafadzo (6) and Themba (4) — were left nursing serious injuries following the attack.

Phiri attempted suicide by torching his house and stabbing himself with the knife on the chest several times at his Mkwasine Estates home.

Neighbours forced open one of the doors to the burning house and rescued Phiri and the two elder children after he had locked himself and the four children inside the house.

Princess and Victor had already died when neighbours gained access to the house. Themba is at Sally Mugabe Central Hospital in Harare and Ropafadzo is being treated at Chiredzi District Hospital, with their condition still reported as critical.

Phiri is recuperating at Chiredzi District Hospital under heavy police guard. A court hearing was held at his bedside and he was remanded in custody to Febuary 9.

Chiredzi magistrate Mr Simbarashe Gundani charged him with two counts of murder and another two counts of attempted murder. Chiredzi District Development Coordinator and Civil Protection Unit chair

Mr Lovemore Chisema confirmed that the younger two Phiri siblings were yet to be buried.

“Burial of the two children who were allegedly killed by their father at Mkwasine Estates has not yet been conducted and it is not yet clear when and where the burial will take place. As of now, their bodies are still in a morgue at Chiredzi District Hospital,” said Mr Chisema.

“We made enquiries on the fate of the two bodies and close relatives indicated that burial arrangements will only be made after full recovery of the other two injured children who are battling for life in hospital.”

Mr Chisema confirmed that Phiri was recovering in hospital.

“He is recuperating at Chiredzi District Hospital but under guard after he was remanded in custody.”

The children’s mother Ms Loice Chakauya last week said the family would only make burial plans after the recovery of the elder two.

Ms Chakauya said she had forgiven her husband and blasted social media for twisting facts.

She said the family could not afford to make burial plans of the deceased while lives of the survivors was still at stake

Mrs Phiri said her husband needed to be mentally examined to determine what caused his behaviour.

She described Phiri as a caring family man who loved his children adding that it was unimaginable he would act the way he did if he was well.