Online Reporter
Arron Nyamayaro
The tragic loss of Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC) Commissioner Dr Martin Muduva and his wife, Lyliosa Chirara, has left their families united in grief but divided over how to bury their loved ones.
Muduva (42) died on Wednesday at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals after succumbing to injuries allegedly sustained during the incident. His wife, Lyliosa (43), allegedly ingested poison and died shortly afterwards.
As mourners gathered to pay their respects, relatives from the Muduva and Chirara families were still locked in discussions over burial arrangements, with no agreement yet reached on where and how the couple should be buried.
The uncertainty has added another layer of pain to a tragedy that has shaken both families and the wider community, with many still struggling to come to terms with the circumstances surrounding the couple’s death.
Sources close to the families said discussions over funeral arrangements have been tense, with differences emerging over family traditions, logistics and representation in decision-making.
In a bid to find common ground, the families agreed to move deliberations away from the family homestead to a neutral venue.
“We are yet to agree on the burial arrangements of the two,” said a relative close to both families.
Among those attending the wake are officials from the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission and health workers from Ruwa Rehabilitation Centre, where Ms Chirara had been transferred before her death.
Amid the sombre atmosphere, members of the couple’s extended “sahwira” family have been moving among mourners encouraging them to undergo health checks for conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes and other non-communicable diseases.
While some welcomed the initiative as a gesture of care during a stressful period, others felt attention should remain focused on mourning the deceased and supporting the bereaved families.
For many gathered at the wake, however, the overriding concern remains the search for answers surrounding the deaths and the hope that investigations will provide clarity.
As consultations continue, family representatives are expected to keep engaging in an effort to reach consensus and allow the couple to be buried with dignity.
