Online Reporter
Arron Nyamayaro
A heartbreaking death of a UK-based bride, who died just hours after her wedding in Harare, has become fodder for social media busybodies who are linking the tragedy to suspected rituals.
Sandra Shingai Sanele Bouyd (29) succumbed to injuries sustained in an accident that reportedly took place in the Glen Norah C area popularly known as “kumasimbi”.
Their car, reported to have been a hired inDrive, was involved in an accident with a kombi and Sandra was taken to Sally Mugabe Central Hospital, previously known as Harare Hospital, where she eventually died.
Sandra had tied the knot with her previously on-off boyfriend, Valentine Chasokela, who turned 31 on February 14 according to his Facebook profile, at the Harare Magistrate’s Court.
Valentine was also injured and was in the car together with Sandra’s cousin, whose name was given as Nicole Kambalazi.
Sandra’s body was taken to the mortuary for a post-mortem examination and she was buried at Zororo Memorial Park on the outskirts of Harare yesterday.
She is survived by her son, Mudiwa, from a previous relationship.
According to reports, the inDrive driver, Benard Hukuimwe, 38, allegedly made a U-turn in front of an oncoming kombi.
There are widespread reports that the court wedding had been kept a secret to most of the couple’s friends and relatives, with Sandra travelling all the way from the UK to wed without their parents’ consent.
These claims could not be immediately verified with the respective families.
Sandra and Valentine were said to have been cohabiting during her visits to Zimbabwe.
A source added that the crash has “exposed” family tensions and led to divisions among relatives.
Sandra had flown back from the UK to make one decision that everyone else said was impossible: to marry Valentine—quietly, secretly, without permission.
They didn’t want a fight. They just wanted the paper, the promise, the moment.
The night of the accident began like any other ride: three people, one hired inDrive, and a road that suddenly turned unforgiving.
Now, social media is awash with unverified claims that Sandra’s “premature” death was a result of dark rituals from some of the people who had been part of her life in the United Kingdom and were shocked by her marriage.
Others suggested she was a victim of dark rituals from own relatives.
Equally, there were some who ruled out rituals but blamed reckless driving and fate.
Mathew Masinge