Family demands Tapiwa’s forensic results

THE family of the late Tapiwa Makore has written to police Commissioner-General Godwin Matanga demanding DNA forensic results which they said have taken long to be released.

Tapiwa (7) was gruesomely murdered in September and is yet to be buried as the hunt for his head is ongoing.

The boy’s torso and other body parts are currently stashed at Murewa District Hospital with the burial of the boy still uncertain three months after the suspected ritual murder.

More than four people have been arrested in connection with the murder among them the deceased uncles Tapiwa (Snr) and Thanks, herdboy Tafadzwa Shamba and a woman from Budiriro in Harare among others.

In a letter dated December 3 to Matanga by human rights lawyer Tabitha Chikeya, the Makore family said the police has failed to fulfil their promise of releasing the results on time.

“Our clients advise that sometime during the period extending from September 2020 to October 2020, some body parts believed to belong to the late Tapiwa Makore were sent for DNA testing.

“Clients were advised that results of the same would be available in 21 days of testing. The 21-day period for both sets of the tests have since been expired. Contrary to the given, the family has not yet been advised of the DNA test results. It hereby remains unclear whether the test results are out or not,” the letter read.

The letter was also copied to Prosecutor-General Kumbirai Hodzi.

According to the letter, the body parts that went for forensic testing include a set of legs, a human skull, the abdomen and a palm that were all examined sometime in September.

The family has since demanded the authorities to release the results within seven days saying the release of the forensic results will go a long way in putting closure into the death of the boy.

“The test results will go a long way in helping the family as they undergo this difficult grieving period. Put differently, the results will give the family the closure that they so greatly need in the unfortunate event which befell them as regards Tapiwa Makore.

“Further, the results will be very instrumental in the expedition of the justice delivery system as already there are people who have been apprehended in connection with the alleged murder of Tapiwa Makore,” the letter added.

Traditional leader Chief Mangwende declared that the late Tapiwa’s remains will not be buried without the missing head.