dyton mupawaenda
Remember Deketeke-Herald Reporter
Tinofara Muzavazi, an eight-year-old boy, has been dead for 16 days as of today.
His parents are unable to bury him due to a family conflict.
Tinofara tragically drowned while swimming in a pond after school on February 18.
His mother, Ms Dorcas Mapfumo, spoke about the heart-breaking moment she learnt of her son’s death.
“Last year I was called by a bus conductor saying my three children were at Mbare Musika Bus Terminus, which came as a surprise because they were staying with their father in Guruve.
“I was once married to Mr Clopas Muzavazi and we had three children named Tafara, Tinofara, and Tinaye.
“These children ran away and left their father’s Guruve home claiming that they were not being fed with the oldest having dropped out of school because of challenges with school fees,” she said.
On the day of the incident, after finishing school at Gosha Primary School Tinofara and his siblings, who were now living with their mother in Juru, Goromonzi, stopped for a swim, where tragedy struck.
“While swimming, that is when the child drowned,” said Ms Mapfumo.
Following the tragedy, Ms Mapfumo accused Mr Muzavazi of blaming her for Tinofara’s death.
“On the day of the tragic incident, I called my ex-husband, Mr Muzavazi, and told him what had happened.
“He started accusing me of killing Tinofara and I immediately ended the call to avoid him pointing fingers,” she said.
Ms Mapfumo said for the past 15 days, which become 16 today, Mr Muzavazi’s family has refused to allow her to bury her son, alleging that “I and my (current) husband are involved.”
She expressed concern over the costs of keeping Tinofara’s body in the mortuary. As of yesterday, the mortuary fees were at US$150.
Mr Muzavazi, who resides in Guruve while the body is in Juru, said: “Since I stay in Guruve and the body is currently in Juru, my pocket is not strong enough to cater for the transport and the associated financial burden for my son to be buried.
“I have never been a stumbling block and I know that my child has been in the mortuary for the past 15 days and I have been telling my ex-wife that I do not have money to ferry my son from Juru and to bury him (in Guruve).”
Traditional beliefs that often grant fathers authority over burial rites are also complicating Tinofara’s burial.
Mr Phanuel Chikomo, a respected African spiritualist, yesterday said: “In many African societies, patriarchal authority dictates that men are the primary decision-makers within families.
“This structure not only grants fathers authority over familial matters, but also places them in roles that involve significant responsibilities, including funeral rites.”
Police said they cannot intervene saying the matter is a family dispute.
National police spokesperson, Commissioner Paul Nyathi, said: “Since this is a family dispute with the body at the mortuary, there has not been a case for the police to act on.
“If there were an issue of the body being tossed around, the police could have intervened, but this one is a family dispute which needs all members to come together and plan what to do.”
Social commentators say the wrangle highlights the profound impact of parental disputes over children, even in death.
As the family remains divided, Tinofara’s case serves as a poignant reminder of the consequences of unresolved conflicts in families.
Online Reporter