Cyclone Idai wounds slowly healing

◆ some of the victims that were discovered in Mozambique should be brought home for them to afford their relatives decent burials.

Ms Nursemary Murehwa, whose sister was never located after Cyclone Idai said: “We strongly appeal to Government to expedite efforts to repatriate the remains of the victims that were discovered in Mozambique.

“Some blood samples were taken from us for DNA tests, and we are still waiting for the results. This will go a long way in giving us the closure that we desperately need, we need to give our relatives decent burials.”

When Cyclone Idai hit, around 340 people were confirmed dead in Zimbabwe, but not all bodies were recovered in Zimbabwe or in Mozambique where many were swept to.

As a result, the police still have 279 people listed as missing.

Under ordinary law, any relative of a missing person can approach the courts after five years to have that person declared legally dead.

However, the Attorney-General is bringing this as a class action so that the families, many of whom might not have the resources, can have the declaration made without paying any legal costs.

Mrs Mabiza has followed the legal formalities and published her formal notice in The Manica Post on December 1 last year to seek any objections.

At the end of the 10 days set aside for anyone to object, no notice of opposition was filed with the Registrar of the High Court in Mutare, so the application by the Attorney-General will be set down on the unopposed roll.

This means that after the resident judge ensures that all the legal steps have been taken, he or she can then grant the order.