Murdered woman’s family to meet

The 34-year-old woman, Miriam Nyoni nee Takavingofa, was allegedly brutally murdered by her husband Goodman Nyoni (33), who allegedly split her skull with a machete, chopped off her hands and then tried to commit suicide by slitting his wrists with the machete.
The woman’s body has spent three weeks at United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH) mortuary and the Takavingofa family is allegedly still reluctant to make a decision on when she would be buried.

In an interview yesterday, the family spokesperson Mr Simplicious Chikoko said the family still had not made a decision.
“We still have not made a decision on how we are going to deal with the situation. Miriam’s body is still at the mortuary and the family will meet over the approaching Easter holidays and decide.
“Our daughter was murdered in a painful manner and we are not going to just rush into burying her. Customarily there are some traditions that we have to adhere to first before talking about burial,” said Mr Chikoko.

He said the whole Takavingofa family was going to gather at their Masvingo home during the holidays and also decide on the blood-stained lounge.
“We are expecting all the Takavingofa family members to attend so that we decide on Miriam’s body and how we are going to handle the whole situation.
“I am surprised because the Nyoni family has been quiet with no communication whatsoever. We have not received anything as far as our demand of 45 beasts and $3 000 is concerned,” said Mr Chikoko.

He said the family was also going to decide whether Miriam was going to be buried in case the Nyonis fail to meet the demand.
Meanwhile, the Mpopoma house where the gruesome murder took place has reportedly been abandoned by the family with neighbours claiming that it is haunted. The murder took place at Block 37/1212.
When a Chronicle news crew visited the house recently, the gate was open but there was no one at the house.

Windows were closed and there was no one on the property.
Speaking to Chronicle, a neighbour who declined to be named said no one lived there anymore.
“There is no one staying in the house as of late. Miriam’s blood is still on the floor and it seems her family still does not want to clean it,” said the man.
He said the house had been empty ever since the family dispersed soon after the brief funeral wake.

“Everyone left the house soon after the Takavingofa family decided to go back to their rural homes. The house has been deserted ever since and one or two family members just come for a few minutes to check on it and leave within a short space of time,” he said.
Mr S Takawira, the Nyoni family spokesperson, denied the allegations that the house was haunted and said there was no one at the house because the custodians were absent.

“I do not understand why people are alleging the house is haunted because the custodians of the house are not there. One is now late and the other is in police custody so clearly there cannot be anyone living in the house. I cannot confirm such a thing because it does not exist. The doors are locked and I go there to check on a regular basis,” said Mr Takawira.

He said the family still did not know when Miriam was going to be buried as it was waiting to hear from the Takavingofas.