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Trust Freddy, Herald Correspondent
The devastating road accident at the Dzivaresekwa turn-off along the Harare-Bulawayo Highway on Wednesday morning has hammered families in a small community in Dzivarasekwa.
Nyarai Kwemeke (40) tragically died in the crash, leaving behind a six-month-old baby and two other sons aged three and 21.
The burden of care now falls on the child’s grandmother, Gogo Midhe (71), who is struggling to cope with the loss.
Nyarai was known for her resilience, working as a food vendor to support her family.
Every day, she would leave home to sell vegetables and sweets, a task she undertook with dedication.
On the day of the accident, she left at 4:30am, promising her mother she would return soon.
Gogo Midhe remembers their last exchange fondly;
“Mummy, I am now going to Mbare Musika; take care of the child, I will be back soon.”
However, that promise was never fulfilled.
Instead, Gogo Midhe received the devastating news of her daughter’s death from a stranger at her door.
The callousness of fate struck harder when Gogo Midhe learnt of the accident just minutes after Nyarai left home.
A neighbour is said to have knocked with teary eyes, saying: “Can someone who is an adult go to Dzivaresekwa turn-off? Your daughter has serious wounds; she has just been involved in an accident.”
Gogo Midhe’s heart sank as she sensed the gravity of the situation.
Fearful of the worst, she recalled the moment when a group of people arrived at her gate, hesitant to share the terrible news.
Eventually, they broke the news: “Your daughter has died.”
This heart-wrenching moment shattered the family’s life, leaving Gogo Midhe to care for Nyarai’s three children.
“How will I care for this child?” she asks, her voice trembling with emotion.
The survival of her family now feels uncertain without Nyarai’s support.
The accident also claimed the lives of Sophia Machemba, 35, and her husband Enock Chanengeta, 40, who were set to wed in April.
Their dreams of a beautiful wedding were cut short, leaving behind three children who will now grow up without their parents’ love and guidance.
Sophia was a well-known food vendor along Mazowe Road, while Enock operated nearby.
As mourners gathered at Gogo Midhe’s home, the atmosphere was thick with sorrow.
The cries of Nyarai’s baby echoed the collective heartbreak of a community in mourning.
Gogo Midhe expressed her despair.
“Without her, I don’t know how we will survive,” she said.
The loss of Nyarai and Sophia has plunged the community into mourning, with families coming together to support one another.
Gogo Midhe’s plea for help resonates deeply, highlighting the need for community support in times of unimaginable grief.
Compounding the tragedy was the loss of Tafadzwa Kupakuwana, 21, a close friend of Nyarai’s son, who was also involved in the accident.
Tafadzwa lived in the same house as Nyarai, further intertwining their families.
Gogo Kachenautava, Tafadzwa’s grandmother, lamented the loss.
“I have lost a best friend, and he was taking care of me,” she said.
Gogo Kachenautava added that Tafadzwa was a disciplined child who had taken care of her since his mother’s passing when he was in Grade One.
When The Herald arrived, mourners were doing a body viewing for Tafadzwa, while a joint service was being held.
Nyarai’s surviving child was not available, having gone to collect his mother’s body.
The Herald yesterday attended four different funerals within a short radius.
The joint funeral services for Nyarai and Tafadzwa drew many mourners, illustrating the profound impact of their loss on the community.
As families gathered to grieve, it became clear that the tragedy had struck a chord far beyond the immediate circle of the deceased.
Meanwhile, Sophia and Enock’s story is equally tragic.
They were excitedly planning their wedding in April, but family disputes complicated their final farewells.
Ayeza Gunhi, Sophia’s sister, shared the family’s heartbreak.
“The two used to love each other very much, but there was a hostile relationship; we could not see eye-to-eye with her husband’s relatives,” Ayeza said.
“Since these two were inseparable, we wanted them to be buried on the same day, but her husband’s relatives refused,” she said.
Her views could not be immediately verified.
Amid this sorrow, the community finds strength in unity, gathering to support Gogo Midhe and the children left behind.
The tragedy serves as a stark reminder of life’s fragility and the bonds that connect people.
As Dzivaresekwa mourns, the hope for healing and support remains a shared aspiration among its residents.
Sophia was buried yesterday at Granville Cemetery, commonly known as KuMbudzi, and her husband would be buried today.
Online Reporter