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Mashudu Netsianda Senior Reporter
A MAN digging his late brother’s grave collapsed and fell into the burial pit.
“Perfectly healthy” Mokeli Mickel Nkulumo Sibanda, 59, of Msewele Village in Jotsholo, had just taken the pick from a fellow villager when he collapsed suddenly.
His sister, Rosemary Sibanda, 44, told Chronicle: “My brother just took a couple of digs and the pick left his grip and dropped into the pit which was still shallow, less than a metre deep. He fell headlong into the grave. He was already dead.”
Nkulumo – the local village head – had joined other villagers to dig a grave for his late brother, Thomas Sibanda, shortly after 8AM last Friday.
His sister Rosemary recalled: “I was busy preparing food for the mourners when I heard people wailing.
“I rushed to the gravesite and found people trying to retrieve my brother’s body.
“After they had removed him from the pit, I tried to render First Aid, but he was already dead.”
Jotsholo police were immediately informed. Bravely, the grave digging was soon resumed and Thomas was buried on the same day. Nkulumo’s body, meanwhile, was taken to the United Bulawayo Hospitals for a post-mortem. Assistant Inspector Siphiwe Makonese of Matabeleland North police said foul play had been ruled out after the post-mortem results were released, allowing the family to bury the father of six on Tuesday.
His wife, Soneni Tshuma, 44, who is also a local ward councillor, said: “This is a terrible tragedy for the family. I’m at a loss for words, considering that my husband was perfectly healthy.”
When Chronicle visited Nkulumo’s homestead yesterday, mourners – mostly close relatives, including his mother, Sithembiso Dube, 86, – were still gathered at his homestead.
derick.khumalo