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Trust Khosa
MOURNERS gathered for a funeral service in St Peter’s Roman Catholic Church in Mbare, Harare were left tongue-tied when touts stormed the church and snatched a coffin bearing the body of their colleague for a pre-burial road show.
The dare devils took away the body of Tatenda Jumwira, also known as Gunzvi. They put the coffin on a commuter omnibus and drove around Mbare and the Harare City Centre. The incident occurred last Saturday.
“They are taking him (coffin) away, they are taking him away,” mourners could be heard saying in the background.
The touts claimed Gunzvi, who died after a brawl, belonged to their circle. It seems the drama continues to trail Gunzvi in death like a shadow after Saturday’s fracas. Fellow touts stood by him till his death.
Gunzvi – believed to be of no fixed abode – was known for his notoriety at Mbare Musika and Copacabana ranks.
Fellow touts and kombi crews interviewed by The Herald confirmed that Gunzvi was a notorious friend.
“I worked with him for years but I didn’t know his real name till his death. At work, we only use nicknames or totems for easy identification. We will miss him a lot because he also worked for the party as a cadre,” said a tout at Mbare Musika.
Another tout said: This guy was a nuisance to many. He used harassed people touting for passengers. It’s sad that Gunzvi has died but we will always remember his shenanigans.”
There was also chaos as friends struggled to find a place where his funeral wake could be held. Some mourners were gathered in Mbare National, while others were in Waterfalls.
Several people in Mbare National said they only knew him with the name Gunzvi. Others identified him as Cde Gunzvi in his area.
“He was a well-known tout in Mbare for being notorious. It’s funny that we don’t know his original name and much about his real family. We only know him as a tout who used to terrorise people in Mbare,” said one of the residents.
The situation was tense in Mbare National where some mourners gathered. Similar cases where funeral services of kombi crew are disrupted by thugs have become a common phenomenon. Kombi crews are never short of drama during the funerals and burials of their former workmates.
“We are used to these stunts but they must also respect mourners and relatives of their deceased friends,” said one of the mourners. Videos of kombi crews performing similar stunts are now awash on social media. The acts have divided opinion.
Online Reporter