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THERE was a gold rush at a grave site during the memorial service of a 69-year-old man in Mazowe.
The incident happened at Mbuya Nehanda Village, on Saturday where family and friends were holding a memorial service for the late Tichawona Chipenya.
His gold panning friends suddenly started to scramble for the gold stones.
The deceased was also a gold panner and famer in Mashonaland Central.
Chipenya’s son, Kuda, 29 confirmed the incident.
“I was so saddened after witnessing people scrambling for gold from my father’s grave,” he said.
“Matombo akanga aka bata mari akazowanikwa pakugadzirwa kweguva rababa vangu.
“My father was a man of the people.”
Chipenya’ s sister, Rosemary Nyakudya, 62, said:
“My brother’s death saddened me and this has been worsened after witnessing mourners taking stones from his grave.
“I later felt better because most them were ordered to throw the stones back at the grave.
“To those who successfully pocketed anything from his grave, it is taboo, even a dust particle is culturally not supposed to be taken away by anyone for any reason whatsoever, without the relatives’ permission.”
Chipenya’s brother, Michael Namusi, said:
“I do not have much to say to those who abused by brother’s grave, the heaven has answers, thank you to those who were with my elder brother in life up to his burial.
“Our main message from Maruta Village in Hwedza district where this Tichawona came from is, please stop drug abuse.”
A 24-year-old gold panner, Matthew Magomo, said:
“Firstly, I condemn those who scrambled for gold at this grave site, that is inhuman.
“Secondly, I educate those who think that gold panning is about beheading each other with machetes that this is not the right way.
“We are the most disciplined persons here around these Mbuya Nehanda mountains, we are culturally not allowed to engage in prostitution, fighting, stealing of harming each other.
“If we do that we will not get any gold.”
Givemore Tsaratsa, of Mbuya Nehanda Village, said:
“Sure this incident happened after some mourners across with gold-rich stones.”
Online Reporter