. . . DNA identification of Cyclone Idai victims starts

DNA identification of 31 Cyclone Idai victims whose bodies were exhumed in Mozambique recently will take about two weeks to complete as the remains were in an advanced state of decomposition or burnt beyond recognition.

The 31 bodies have been brought back home, out of the 157 that were confirmed missing at the height of the ferocious cyclone that killed more than 1 000 people in Zimbabwe, Malawi and Mozambique.

Exhumation of the 31 bodies was carried out in Dombe, Espungabeira, Sussundenga and Moussorize districts in Mozambique after Harare and Maputo agreed to bring closure to families of the missing victims. The remains are currently at Chimoio Provincial Hospital awaiting DNA tests that will be conducted at the National University of Science and Technology and the AiBBST DNA centre.

It is understood that the AiBBST centre received 20 DNA samples whilst NUST received 11.

In an interview with The Sunday Mail, Civil Protection Unit (CPU) director, Mr Nathan Nkomo, said: “As I was talking to pathologists dealing with the bodies, they said it will take about two weeks to identify because of the state they are in. We are also anxiously waiting for the results. At the moment we haven’t identified any single body. Once the results are out, the public will be advised.”

Mr Nkomo said due to the advanced state of decomposition of some of the bodies, more time will be needed to conduct tests.

“You know people in Mozambique use fire to clear their fields and some bodies which were strewn in the fields were burnt beyond recognition. Some were in various stages of decomposition so the pathologists professionally did counting of the bodies to see if they were intact,” he said.

Mr Nkomo revealed that the Government had set aside US$1,5 million for the full exercise to account for the missing Cyclone Idai victims.

“The exhumations so far have taken up about US$200 000. We hope that these 31 will have some positive results so that affected families can have closure. ”

Presenting a report on the exhumation to Cabinet a fortnight ago, Local Government and Public Works Minister July Moyo said the Government had made arrangements for the bodies to be transported back to Zimbabwe for reburial.

“The nation is further advised that Cabinet resolved the remains be transported back to Zimbabwe for reburial.

“The nation is further advised that Cabinet resolved . . . b) that all positively identified remains be conveyed to Victoria Chitepo Provincial Hospital in order to reduce costs for the grieving families. (c) that a mopping exercise be undertaken to identify burial sites and conduct exhumation on the other side of Rusitu River, and (d) that State–assisted burials be provided to the bereaved families.”

A few weeks ago, the Government deployed a team of pathologists, soldiers, police officers and civil registry authorities to Mozambique to carry out the exhumations.