Online Reporter
Latwell Nyangu
EMOTIONS ran high yesterday as Tabetha Chidziva, the Zimbabwean woman who was shot dead in Hillbrow, Johannesburg, last week, was laid to rest at Granville Cemetery yesterday.
Her relatives and friends are calling for justice.
She was shot dead by a South African man, who is believed to be a well-known criminal.
Tabetha leaves behind three children.
She had turned 42 in March.
Moreboys Munetsi, of Great Hope Funeral Insurance, helped in the repatriation of her body from South Africa for burial here at home.
Speaker after speaker expressed sorrow during the funeral wake at her family’s residence in Mbare.
A friend said Tabetha was processing her papers to go and live in the United States.
“Her visa to America was almost done. Ndarwadziwa nerufu rwake, she was about to go to America.
“We are appealing for support for the last born, who is 10-years-old. He was staying in South Africa with his mother but now things have changed.
“Can we have well-wishers to support him so that he can complete his studies. Pana Tabeth ndaiona mai vangu since she has the same totem as my mother.
“The death has affected me deeply. I saw her body lying on the ground. Let her rest in peace.”
Her aunt, Florence, said, the family has been devastated. “We are pained as a family but hatina zvatingaite,” she said. Her uncle added: “She did her part, and she will fight for herself. It’s now up to us to see what we can do.” Her grandmother said: “I saw her last time she came to see me in Mufakose, izvi zvazouya izvi hameno nhai Mwari zvauya sei?
“Zvinondishaisa hope.”
Her friend said she was there when Tabetha was shot dead. “Tabetha ainge akadzingwa pamba.
“I looked after her when she was chased from home and I am saying this because ndiri sahwira, hupenyu hwaakararama hwairwadza and she was a soldier.
“I thought she would wake up.”
Another friend said: “She died a painful death.
“I only saw her lying on the ground. Ndakaona achitamba tamba ndikafunga kuti achamuka.
“Ndoziva uchamuona akakuuraya, dzoka urwise wega, dzoka, chinorova inyama, asi mweya wemunhu hauzorore. “Wadamburirwa hupenyu, watadza kuona vana vevana vako, usazorore, dzoka urwise.”
Another mourner said: “Soko ngaikwire mumuti ibate munhu wayo. We want justice for Tabie.
“Hakuna rest in peace, ngaangoita hondo yake ega.”
Her elder sister said she should come and fight against the killer. “We are pained and tasara tiri vatatu and Tabetha should fight this war alone,” she said.
Mathew Masinge