adminAccording to witnesses, the incident occurred on Saturday last week during the burial of the man’s cousin at Lukange village east of Beitbridge town.
Mr Michael Muleya, who witnessed the incident, said the man had reportedly spent the previous night drinking illicit home- brewed beer commonly known tototo or kachasu.
“People were singing as the coffin was being lowered to the ground when all of a sudden the man emerged from nowhere and started crying loudly shouting the name of the deceased. He then soiled his pair of trousers, much to the annoyance of mourners as the stench was unbearable,” said Mr Muleya.
He said the man had spent the previous night drinking tototo at the funeral wake.
Soon after the incident, some elderly men whisked him away from the crowd but he continued wailing.
“Everyone was shocked as the man continued to shout the name of the deceased while he was being whisked away from the crowd,” said Mr Muleya.
Another witness, who however, declined to be named, said: “It was quite embarrassing for an old man who commands high respect in this village to do such a thing in public, especially during a funeral.”
The drama, which lasted for about 15 minutes, has since become the talk of the village.
One of the elders, Mr Nicholas Chauke, condemned the man’s behaviour, saying it portrayed a bad image of the local community.
“The man was drunk and disorderly and we really don’t condone such practice especially during solemn occasions, which ought to be respected. We don’t want people to see our community in bad light just because of some few irresponsible individuals,” he said.
Online Reporter