Online Reporter
Sharon Jiyamwa and Sekai Manyere
THE task of burying 27 members of the African Apostolic Church who perished in a road accident in Chivhu on Friday began yesterday as relatives, friends and fellow congregants gathered at Zororo Memorial Park to bid farewell to Christine Nyakudziranga.
The burial marked the beginning of a sombre journey for the Mwazha church community still struggling to comprehend the magnitude of a tragedy that wiped out mothers, children and young people in a single night.
Ms Nyakudziranga was among members of the African Apostolic Church who died when a commuter omnibus collided with a haulage truck along the Harare-Masvingo Highway.
As mourners came together, the pain of the loss was palpable, with the last rites bringing home the reality that the lives of people who had been central to their families and church community had been abruptly cut short.
For the Dema Assembly, the tragedy has been particularly devastating, with a large number of its members among those who perished.
Reverend Latson Zvinowanda said the church was still grappling with the scale of the loss.
“We lost many people. We do not have an exact figure yet.
“Those who passed away were the mothers who were dedicated to the church and the youth group that we were hoping would carry on the church.
“Many of them died right there,” he said.
For Ms Nyakudziranga’s family, yesterday’s burial was the painful conclusion of a journey that had begun with the devastating news of the accident and ended with her being lowered into the ground.
Rev Zvinowanda described her as a committed believer who rarely missed church services and devoted herself to the work of God.
“She was strong, loving, loved by people, did God’s work and led the Women’s Guild. She was a person who had did not quarrel with anyone, a person who owed no debt to anyone, a person who simply loved to worship,” said Rev Zvinowanda.
Among the bereaved is Evangelist Magiya, who lost his wife and five children in the accident.
Another congregant, Nyori Bonda, also lost his wife and children, although the exact number of his children who died could not immediately be established.
For Rev Zvinowanda, the scale of the loss could only be understood through faith.
“If you have a mango tree at your home and you decide to cut it down, no one can stop you or ask why you are cutting it down since it belongs to you. In this case, we say it is God who has taken them. We do not argue with Him.”
He acknowledged the deep pain gripping the church, but said faith remained a source of comfort for the bereaved.
For some families the agony of the tragedy was compounded by the difficult process of identifying their loved ones.
Ignatius Dzepatsva recounted the distressing search for his mother after the accident, which took his family across several towns before they eventually found her remains at Chivhu General Hospital mortuary.
President Mnangagwa has since declared the accident a State of Disaster, allowing the Government to assist the affected families.
