A tussle between two families in Zimbabwe, has left a mother of six stranded in a morgue in Sebina, for the past three months.
The deceased, Primrose Mukandanzira who hails from Chivhu in Zimbabwe died in Nshakashokwe on the 8th of May, a month after giving birth.
Her family have however refused to have their daughter buried because her partner, Xolani Moyo and the father of her six children never paid a dime towards her “lobola”. The family want Moyo to follow their cultural practice of paying bride price before they can allow him to bury the corpse.
Due to the standoff, Moyo who hails from Plumtree, Zimbabwe is sinking in debt, as the mortuary costs have skyrocketed to P22 000. He has since sought the intervention of Tutume District Commissioner, Bahiti Keiphokotse to assist him in burying the mother of his children.
“We have reached out to the Zimbabwean Embassy to assist Moyo to be granted authority from the deceased’s family. Moyo came to our offices to report that the woman’s family had refused to help him to bury his partner, because he had not paid bride price despite cohabitating with their daughter for the past 15 years,” explained Keiphokotse.
The district Commissioner’s office has also engaged the social and community development office which has secured a coffin for the deceased. “Moyo is financially strapped. He is struggling to make ends meet, and unable to foot the mortuary bills or even to feed himself and the children,” continued Keiphokotse.
Meanwhile, an officer from the Zimbabwe Embassy disclosed to this publication, that they had managed to locate and engage with the family of the deceased.
“After much deliberations we have managed to convince the family to avail an affidavit authorizing Moyo to bury the deceased. They have requested Moyo to send an equivalent of US$100 for them to kick start the process. As of last week, the money had been sent, and the affidavit was sent on the 30th of July,” said the Embassy’s representative.
Sebina Councillor, Mogomotsi Lemogang said burial arrangements had kicked started to have the deceased buried on Sunday. “We will engage council leadership, and community to see how we can assist Moyo. I understand the body is now in a bad state, as it not able to remain frozen, because the woman succumbed to cancer,” elaborated Councilor Lemogang.
