Online Reporter
Tendai Gukutikwa
Post Reporter
A SHOCKING incident has shaken the Nyamajura community in Odzi, after the grave of a 98-year-old granny was desecrated, and her body was left lying on top of the coffin, with her private parts shaved, heart and tongue missing, underwear missing, and face severely battered.
The gruesome discovery, made on Tuesday at Nyamatsine Gravesite, has left the family and community reeling in horror and disbelief.
Despite being buried for over two weeks, the body appeared remarkably fresh, exacerbating the shock and trauma experienced by her family and the community.
The family suspects that the desecration may be linked to witchcraft or ritual activities, raising concerns about the safety and dignity of the deceased in the community.
Witnesses described the scene as ‘‘chilling’’, with crowds gathered at the grave site in disbelief.
Acting Manicaland provincial police spokesperson, Assistant Inspector Wiseman Chinyoka said he was yet to get finer details on the matter.
He, however, said full scale investigations are in progress. “Investigations are still in progress, and I will provide finer details once they are available,” he said.
The deceased’s daughter, Mrs Lydia Ndoro, struggled to contain her emotions
as she confronted the disturbing scene, and what she described as the second funeral of her mother.
“I was shocked to discover that the sticks that were placed on top of the coffin were scattered outside the grave. Fearful, I rushed home and informed my aunt. The next morning, we returned as a family to find the grave open and our mother’s body lying on top of the coffin. It feels like the funeral never ended — and the pain persists. We are anxious about reburying her, fearing the grave might be desecrated again,” said Ms Ndoro, visibly shaken.
The deceased’s other daughter, Ms Winnet Besini, reminisced about the family’s poignant journey, recalling how they had transported their mother’s body from Bulawayo to Nyamajura for burial on August 20.
“Following the burial, we returned for the rumuko ceremony the next day, and everything seemed undisturbed. After that, no one checked on the grave until yesterday (Tuesday), when we received news that it had been tampered with. When I arrived, the pain was overwhelming, and I could not bring myself to look inside. My sister did, and she screamed that our mother’s body was no longer in the coffin. I am still struggling to comprehend why someone would commit such a heinous act,” she said.
Her sister, Ms Venna Munyaike, who mustered the courage to peep into the grave, provided a harrowing account of the scene, recounting the disturbing details of their mother’s desecrated final resting place.
“When my brother and I finally summoned the courage to peep inside, we were met with a sight that defied description. Our late mother’s face was brutally disfigured, as if struck by a hammer, rendering her unrecognisable.
Her heart, tongue, eyes, nose, and mouth were gone. Her dress only partially covered her chest, exposing her lower body. Notably, the black panties she was buried in were missing. I verified this with my sister in
Bulawayo, who confirmed dressing our mother in those panties. We are consumed by anger and devastation, unsure whether this heinous act was perpetrated by witches or individuals seeking ritualistic purposes. As our mother hailed from Zambia and had no relatives in Zimbabwe besides us, her children, we feel isolated in our grief,” she said.
Faced with uncertainty, the family initially hesitated to rebury their mother, opting to consult traditional healers.
However, after police visited the site, they decided to give her a second burial.
They redressed her in a fresh gown, adorned her with new underwear, and carried out the reburial with the solemnity of a new funeral.
The shocking desecration sent shockwaves through the Nyamajura community, leaving many struggling to comprehend the bizarre act.
Headman Munyengwa expressed dismay, stating that in all his years, he had never witnessed anything as disturbing as the latest incident.
“She passed away two weeks ago, yet her body appeared as if she had just departed. There was no discernible smell, no signs of decay, or worm infestation. Instead, we discovered that her private parts had been shaved, legs crossed, and face brutally disfigured. The heart and tongue were also missing. This is deeply disturbing and shocking. We suspect foul play, possibly linked to witchcraft or ritual activities seeking wealth enhancement.
As traditional leaders under Chief Makoni, we stand in solidarity with the family, seeking answers and justice,” said Headman Munyengwa.
For the family of bereaved family, the most profound wound is emotional.
Her daughters feel deprived of the solace that came with laying their mother to rest. Instead, they are now tormented by the haunting image of her desecrated body.
Grief-stricken Ms Besini, who bore the burden of both burying and reburying her mother, expressed her heartfelt wish — that her soul will finally rest in peace.
Overcome with emotion, Ms Besini added: “Even during the reburial in the late afternoon, I could not bring myself to terms with the reality of looking at her. The pain is overwhelming. I implore everyone — please let our mother rest in peace and refrain from disturbing her final resting place.”
