Scalded man’s body repatriated, buried

THE body of Moses Mtukwa (41) who succumbed to injuries after being scalded with boiling cooking oil by his estranged wife, Moreblessing Nyakunu was recently repatriated from South Africa.

Mtukwa’s body arrived in the country last Monday and was interred at his rural home in Bvirindi under Chief Zimunya last Tuesday afternoon.

The repatriation process was made possible by well-wishers and family members who successful raised the required 27 000 Rand to cover the logistical costs.

The Mtukwa family had struggled to raise the funds after Nyakunu allegedly stole 31 000 Rand and US$800 that Mtukwa had saved for her lobola ceremony.

Mtukwa’s brother-in-law, Tinashe Nyakunu expressed relief that Mtukwa’s remains were successfully repatriated and given a decent burial at his rural home.

“We are grateful to everyone who assisted the Mtukwa family to raise the funds to bring their relative’s remains home for burial. He was buried last Tuesday after the body arrived on Monday night. It is a relief that he can finally rest in peace.

“The Nyakunu family raised some money which was handed over to the Mtukwa family because it was our daughter who committed the crime,” he said.

Mr Nyakunu said they raised US$170, which was converted to 27 000 Rand that was required to repatriate the body.

He, however, said their family was barred from attending the deceased’s burial.

“We understand their feelings, and hold no grudges against them for barring us from attending the burial. We know what our presence meant to them.

They lost a son, and our daughter is responsible for his death. It is a hard thing to accept, and as such their actions are understandable. They sent word through our village head that they did not want to see us there. Only Moreblessing’s child was allowed to witness his father’s burial.

We conveyed our condolences to the family, and we are grateful that they allowed us to contribute the little we had,” said Nyakunu. He said Moreblessing is yet to contact them and remains a fugitive from justice. He appealed to both South African and Zimbabwean police to expedite investigations to bring her to book.

The late Mtukwa’s brother, Davison Mtukwa was not reachable for a comment as his phone was unavailable.

The late Mtukwa was hospitalised for two weeks on life support in Cape Town, South Africa, before his passing on, according to his older brother, Davison Mtukwa.

In a previous interview, Davison said they only got to know that their now late brother was in hospital and in need of care after five days.

This was through a well-wisher who had helped him get to the hospital, and went on to contact their sister.

“When my sister got there, she was immediately told that he was supposed to be on life support, and we had raise money for his medical care. By then, Moses was still talking and told our sister that he had 30 000 Rands and US$800 at home. The money was meant to pay for Nyakunu’s lobola. He had earlier told me about his savings and we were planning to go to the Nyakunu family to settle the lobola arrears,” he said.

Mr Mtukwa said when their sister went to Moses’ home, it was deserted and the money was nowhere to be found as Nyakunu had fled with it.

He claimed that the fight between the late Moses and Nyakunu was as a result of the lobola money, as Nyakunu wanted to use the money for something else, while her husband insisted that it was meant to pay off her lobola arrears.