5 years on: In-laws clash over deceased’s clothes

Tendai Gukutikwa
Weekender Reporter
A DISPUTE over the belongings of the late Anyway Saurombe has erupted between her family and her former partner, Phillip Kushanyisa.
The controversy surrounds clothes claimed to have belonged to the deceased, which the Kushanyisa family brought to the Saurombe family five years after Anyway’s death.
The Saurombe family questions the ownership and authenticity of the clothes, while the Kushanyisa family insists they are fulfilling an agreement to return the items.
While Phillip did not appear before Chief Mutasa’s community court as he was said to be in South Africa, he was represented by his brother, Oliver, who said Phillip had co-habited with Anyway as husband and wife in South Africa, and they had a child together.
“Anyway was married to my brother Phillip customarily, and they stayed together in South Africa. They had a child. We paid part of the bride price for Anyway. Later on, she visited her parents in Zimbabwe and went back to South Africa, leaving her child behind without telling my brother.
“When she returned, they had a misunderstanding, and the relationship ended. She left some of her belongings at Phillip’s house in South Africa. Shortly after that, she fell ill and sadly passed away during the Covid-19 era,” he said.
Oliver said when his family attended the funeral, the Saurombes demanded US$500 from them, but they only paid US$300.
“Before her burial, I told them that she had left some clothes at my brother’s house in South Africa, and they told me that they would advise me on the day to deliver them. They never did that, which is why for five years we were stuck with the clothes. Years later, I went to their homestead in Honde Valley and left the clothes at their gate, but to my surprise, they brought them back, saying they were not hers. I took the matter to the lower courts, but nothing was resolved, so I brought it here for the chief’s intervention,” said Oliver.
However, Anyway’s father, Taurai Saurombe, vehemently denied that his late daughter was married to Phillip or that the clothes being presented belonged to her.
“I am shocked by these clothes they are talking about. We distributed my late daughter’s belongings years ago when she died. These clothes are new to me.
“You cannot distribute a dead person’s belongings twice. My daughter was not married. She stayed alone in South Africa, working there. When she fell ill, it was us, her parents, who sent her money for bus fare to return home. No one paid any bride price for her. These people are strangers to me, and I do not know them as my in-laws,” charged Saurombe.
He also dismissed Oliver’s claims of partial bride price payment, saying the family never received any roora from the Kushanyisas.
Anyway’s sister, Janet Saurombe, also took the stand and dismissed the claims of marriage, saying Phillip and Anyway were just cohabiting.
“They were just cohabiting. When we visited them in South Africa soon after her death, and asked if she had left any belongings, they told us there was nothing, and even said they had burnt her old braas. We were shocked when, years later, they suddenly appeared with a bag full of clothes, claiming they belonged to my late sister.

“These clothes look different from hers – there was also a new blanket that did not belong to her. I questioned them about it, and they said they bought it after her death. We do not know where they came from, and we suspect there is more to this than what we are being told,” said Janet.
The Saurombe family further asked for the consultation of traditional healers to verify whether the clothes truly belonged to Anyway, and to determine if her spirit was at peace or if there was any spiritual or witchcraft-related cause behind her death.
“We ask for permission to seek the truth from spiritual healers. If these are truly my sister’s clothes, then her spirit will confirm it. If not, then we will know that someone is trying to use her name for other reasons. We cannot just accept anything brought to us after five years,” added Janet.
Chief Mutasa ruled that both families should consult traditional healers to establish the truth and resolve the spiritual questions surrounding the issue.
“This matter has gone beyond simple words. Both families are giving conflicting statements, one claims there was marriage and these are her clothes, while the other denies everything. To avoid further disputes and possible misfortune, it is best that traditional healers are consulted to determine the truth,” said Chief Mutasa.
He also warned that interfering with the belongings of the deceased without performing the proper cultural rites could invite misfortunes or unrest among family members.
“Matters concerning the dead must be treated with respect. If handled carelessly, they can bring bad luck or continuous conflict.
Let this be resolved properly and peacefully,” he advised.