Online Reporter
Arron Nyamayaro
The atmosphere in Mbare shifted dramatically following the burial of legendary guitarist, David Edgar Ndoro.
Neighbours were taken aback by the sight of a fire burning shortly after the service, igniting rumours and speculation about the events that transpired.
David Ndoro was found in a decomposed state in a toilet at his family home, where he had been living alone.
He was 72.
Known for his remarkable talent as a lead guitarist, Ndoro played alongside esteemed musicians such as Thomas Mapfumo, Oliver Mtukudzi and Mike Lanas among others.
In a move that shocked many, Ndoro’s surviving sisters—Olivia, Florence, and Elizabeth—allegedly hired local residents to burn their brother’s personal belongings, including clothes, blankets, and important documents.
This act drew the ire of David’s only child, Olivia Ndoro, who was seen trying to save cherished items, including Bibles and newspaper clippings, from the flames.
As the fire flickered, the community buzzed with gossip. Questions arose about the motivations behind the destruction of David’s belongings, especially with the traditional distribution of his estate looming on Saturday.
In a statement, Olivia Makombe, one of David’s sisters, sought to clarify the family’s actions.
“We engaged our neighbours to clean the house, washing dirty blankets and clothes and burning some items that had mould and an unpleasant smell. There was nothing sinister about it,” she asserted.
However, she did not shy away from criticizing the church that had played a significant role in David’s life.
“What was truly troubling was the indoctrination from our brother’s church. Their doctrine isolated David from relatives of other faiths.
“He died alone, and none of us or even his church members were aware of his passing.”
David was last seen attending a church service on October 8.
After his absence from subsequent services, church members contacted the family, leading to the grim discovery of his body.
The family had been aware of his heart failure since 2020, and while he had been a devoted member of the church, they described the organisation as a cult, claiming it had driven a wedge between him and his family.
“If everything goes according to plan, we are expecting to distribute his belongings on Saturday,” Olivia said, condemning the church’s doctrine that divided families.
Despite the turmoil, several prominent figures from the music industry attended David’s burial service, including guitarist and producer Mono Mkundu and television personality Amai Rebecca Chisamba.
David was laid to rest at Glenforest Cemetery last Thursday.
