admin
Mukudzei Chingwere
Herald Reporter
The delegation deployed to Mozambique to exhume remains of 157 Zimbabweans reported missing during Cyclone Idai floods in 2019, have dug up remains of 31 people which are now undergoing DNA tests to ascertain their identity, Cabinet has said.
Cabinet also resolved that the missing persons are dead after invoking the Civil Protection Act to do so before the prescribed five years.
Government deployed a team of pathologists, soldiers, police officers and civil registry authorities to Mozambique for the exhumation and repatriation of Zimbabwean nationals who were swept away by the Cyclone Idai floods in 2019 for re-burial back home.
The deployments were necessitated by the escalated relations with Mozambique from the Permanent Joint Commission chaired by Ministers of Foreign Affairs to a Bi-National Commission co-chaired by Presidents – Cde Mnangagwa and Felipe Nyusi.
Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister, Monica Mutsvangwa, said Cabinet received a report on the exhumation of Cyclone Idai victims who were temporarily buried in Dombe, Sussundenga and Moussorize, Espungabeira Districts of Mozambique.
“The nation is being informed that following a Cabinet decision to exhume bodies of victims of Cyclone Idai that were swept to Mozambique through the Rusitu River, a team comprising pathologists, the Zimbabwe Republic Police forensic officials, the Zimbabwe National Army and the Civil Registry was set up to carry out the exhumations.
“The team, assisted by the Zimbabwean Ambassador to Mozambique, held consultations with Mozambican officials and traditional leadership before carrying out a total of 31 exhumations.
“The traditional leadership and the grave diggers were paid tokens of appreciation for assisting in the burial of the victims,” said Minister Mutsvangwa.
She said an arrangement was made with Chimoio Provincial Hospital for the storage of the remains of the victims.
DNA tests will be carried out in Zimbabwe by the National University of Science and Technology’s Applied Genetic.
“Testing Centre in collaboration with the AIBST Laboratory. The two laboratories have already collected reference samples from the families who lost their loved ones during the disaster.
“Government has made arrangements for the remains to be transported and stored in Zimbabwe prior to the release of DNA results,” said Minister Mutsvangwa.
She said Cabinet has resolved, “to declare the missing persons dead so as to facilitate acquisition of the relevant documentation at the Civil Registry Department and the subsequent registration of the deceased persons’ estates.”
Minister Mutsvangwa said, “all positively identified remains to be conveyed to Mutare General Hospital in order to reduce costs for the grieving families (also) a mopping-up exercise be undertaken to identify burial sites and conduct exhumations on the other side of the Rusitu River and State-assisted burials be provided to the bereaved families.”
Minister of Local Government and Public Works, July Moyo, said they are matching the dead with their families, and explained the laborious process before declaring them dead.
Online Reporter