A 26-year-old Hauna man’s funeral took a bizarre turn after mourners reportedly witnessed what appeared to be tears streaming down his face as his body lay in a coffin.
It got even more alarming for the family after his grave was found disturbed the following morning.
Walter Kupemba (Jnr) was recently buried after succumbing to an illness at Victoria Chitepo Provincial Hospital.
His mother, Gladys Tangwena, said the family is still struggling to come to terms with both his sudden death and the strange events that unfolded during the funeral.
Gladys said she first heard reports from staff at the funeral parlour that tears appeared to be flowing from down his face.
She later witnessed the phenomenon after the coffin was opened.
“They wiped the tears away, but when my sisters and I later performed some traditional rituals observed by a deceased person’s mother, the tears started flowing again. It was not just a few drops. It appeared as if he was weeping, especially from the right eye. It was as though he was alive and crying. I was devastated and could not bring myself to view the body again,” she said.
Gladys added that several mourners who viewed the body also claimed to have seen the tears.
“We eventually buried him while the tears were still appearing. It was something none of us could understand,” she said.
The family’s distress deepened the following morning when they returned to the grave for rumuko, a traditional ritual conducted after burial.
“There were marks on the upper end of the grave that looked as if someone had sat there.
“We also noticed footprints leading away from the grave. Some appeared human, while others resembled those of a four-legged animal,” she said.
She added that a stone placed at the head of the grave had also been moved.
Describing her son as hardworking and ambitious, Gladys said his death had come as a shock.
Walter Jnr had been working in Sagambe and was in the process of building a seven-room house when he died.
She recalled that her son returned home from Sagambe complaining of a toothache before his condition deteriorated.
Now left with two daughters, Gladys fears for her family’s safety amid the unexplained circumstances surrounding her son’s death.
She revealed that the family had initially considered consulting traditional healers on the day of the burial to seek answers.
She further alleged that her son had previously been involved in a dispute with one of his uncles, who had allegedly threatened him.
The deceased’s uncle, Walter Kupemba (Snr), confirmed that relatives and community members witnessed what appeared to be tears flowing down his face during the funeral.
The family, he said, had begun consulting traditional healers to find answers.
He also confirmed seeing the unusual marks on the grave during rumuko.
Walter (Snr) added that the family plans to visit Sagambe to investigate whether Walter Jnr had experienced any challenges before he fell ill. — Manicaland Bureau
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Teenager commits suicide after counselling session
A usually quiet Buhera village was plunged into mourning after a 18-year-old teenager tragically took his own life by consuming poison moments after a domestic counselling session.
Fidelity Nemadire, of Chinyamatikiti village under Chief Chamutsa in Buhera, died after consuming the substance following a discussion with his grandmother and a neighbour.
Acting Manicaland provincial police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Wiseman Chinyoka confirmed the incident.
He said the unfortunate event occurred on a Tuesday when Nemadire was called by his grandmother, Cathy Dube, to appear before their neighbour, Nemapare Tayirodza, for counselling.
“On October 20, around 8am, Nemadire was called out by his grandmother, Cathy Dube (70), to appear before Nemapare Tayirodza, for counselling. During the counselling session, Nemadire indicated to the two that he would consume poison if they continued to lecture or counsel him,” said Asst Insp Chinyoka.
He said Nemadire subsequently went into his room and took an unknown substance.
Another villager, Ray Nemadire, tried to intervene when he saw him trying to take the poison.
However, Fidelity ran towards Devure River, with Ray in hot pursuit.
“He went to his room and took a container of an unknown poison. A villager, Ray, saw Fidelity trying to consume poison and tried to run after him. Fidelity ran towards Devure River and Ray followed him, and later saw foam coming from his mouth,” said Asst Insp Chinyoka.
Ray brought Fidelity back to his homestead to administer first aid, but Fidelity died upon arrival.
Police encouraged families and community members to take suicide threats seriously and seek appropriate assistance when someone exhibits signs of emotional distress.
The deceased’s body was taken to Birchenough Bridge Hospital for a post-mortem.
The matter was later reported at Birchenough Bridge Police Station. — Manicaland Bureau
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Woman raped five times in a single night
A Tsholotsho man who subjected a 39-year-old woman to a night of terror by raping her five times at a bus terminus and nearby flea market will spend the next 20 years behind bars.
Thulani Tshuma (26), of Tsholotsho Council Quarters, was convicted of rape after the State proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.
Tshuma appeared before regional magistrate Aelene Munamati, where he was found guilty and sentenced to an effective 20 years in prison.
In her ruling, Munamati said the State witnesses provided credible evidence.
“Tshuma is found guilty and sentenced to 20 years in jail. He deserves to reform in jail so that he will become a better member of the society,” she said.
The magistrate emphasised that the bus terminus is a public place meant for travellers, not a hunting ground for sexual predators.
She added that the gravity of the offence was heightened by the fact that Tshuma targeted a vulnerable woman sleeping at the terminus and subjected her to repeated attacks throughout the night.
Prosecutor Owen Mugari told the court that rape is a serious crime that leaves victims deeply traumatised.
“Rape is prevalent in such areas. The accused person used violence. The offence occurred at a public place, a bus terminus, where members of the public should feel safe,” he submitted.
Mugari argued that a deterrent sentence was necessary to send a strong message to potential offenders.
Although Tshuma pleaded for leniency during mitigation, the court found no mitigating circumstances to warrant a lighter sentence.
The court heard that on September 1, 2026, at around 3am, the complainant — a 39-year-old woman from Sipongweni Line — was sleeping under a shelter at the Tsholotsho bus terminus when Tshuma attacked her.
He began molesting her and when she woke up and attempted to resist, he pinned her to the ground, removed her clothes and raped her.
Tshuma then dragged the victim to a nearby flea market, forced her onto the cold ground and raped her four more times. The assault continued until daylight, when he finally ordered her to leave.
The traumatised woman fled to well-wishers, who assisted her in reporting the matter to the police before she was referred to Tsholotsho District Hospital for treatment.
A medical report detailing her injuries was presented in court as an exhibit. — Matabeleland North
