Tendai Gukutikwa-Mutare Bureau
THE six girls who perished in a fire that gutted a seven-roomed house at Bamhamire Village in Chipinge last Sunday have been accorded State-assisted burial status, with Doves Funeral Services engaged to handle their interment.
The girls, aged between six and 16, died when the house belonging to Mr Blessing Pferedzai caught fire at around 2am on November 8, while other family members were away attending an overnight church service in Chiredzi.
Chipinge District Development Coordinator Mr William Mashava confirmed the State assistance, saying burial arrangements were awaiting DNA results to conclusively establish the identities of the victims.
“The disaster in which six girls died in an inferno at their house and the burial process has been granted State-assisted status,” he said.
“In view of the same, Doves Funeral Services has been contracted to facilitate the interment process, and the company is now awaiting the release of the DNA results so that burial proceedings begin.”
Mr Mashava said the Chipinge District Medical Officer, Dr Ozzymore Matekenya, had indicated that the results were expected within 48 to 72 hours from Wednesday, raising hopes that they would be available by today or Saturday.
The family has proposed Sunday for the burial, subject to the completion of the identification process.
Government has also provided food assistance to the bereaved family to help with funeral preparations.
“Apart from everything else, the Government has so far sent one tonne of maize to the family and another well-wisher has also given them a tonne of maize so that they can be helped during the funeral as a family,” Mr Mashava said.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police identified the victims as Linece Pferedzai (14), Lisa Pferedzai (10), Nyasha Sithole (16), Princess Mutisi (6), Sarudzai Njayinjayi (16) and Velarida Mandongwe (7).
National police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the deaths, saying DNA tests were being conducted to establish the victims’ identities and facilitate burial arrangements.
The fire extensively damaged the house, making it difficult for family members to identify the bodies.
No household property was recovered from the inferno.
Family spokesperson Mr Osbrain Pferedzai said the victims would be buried at different family homesteads in accordance with their family relationships.
His two sisters, Linece and Lisa, would be buried at the family cemetery, while his nieces, Nyasha and Princess, would be laid to rest at their respective fathers’ homesteads.
The other two victims, who were his mother’s sisters, would also be buried at their family homes.
“We have to wait for the DNA results before we can proceed with the burials,” he said.
Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs and Devolution Advocate Misheck Mugadza has since visited the bereaved family to offer condolences and assure them of Government support.
He described the deaths as a heartbreaking loss and said Government and the community stood with the family during the difficult period.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation, although a possible gas-related explosion has been raised as one of the suspected causes.
