US$43 000 required for exhumation

Sunday Mail Reporter

THE Department of Civil Protection (DCP) requires US$43 000 to exhume and repatriate remains of Cyclone Idai victims buried in Mozambique.

Cyclone Idai severely affected Manicaland province, leaving more than 300 people dead, hundreds missing and tens of thousands displaced.

Some bodies were swept away to neighbouring Mozambique by subsequent floods.

DCP chief director Mr Nathan Nkomo told The Sunday Mail that they were currently waiting for the release of the funds “for the remaining repatriations”.

“It was our wish to receive the money last year but, because of the delays, nothing is really on the ground. We cannot go and exhume more because, currently, there are no resources,” he said.

No resources

“National University of Science and Technology, which was assigned to do the DNA tests, is also not able to do so at the moment because there are no resources.”

Last year, a delegation of pathologists, security agents and civil registry officials was deployed to Mozambique for the exhumation and repatriation of the remains of nationals who were swept away by Cyclone Idai.

The delegation managed to exhume 31 bodies, whose identities are currently being ascertained.

Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Permanent Secretary Dr Gerald Gwinji said the ministry’s duty is to provide burial orders and issue death certificates for victims.

“The lead coordinating State agency for this process is the Civil Protection Department.

Our role as Ministry of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage, through the Civil Registry Department, is to provide, at the appropriate stage, burial orders and subsequently issue corresponding death certificates for the reburied individuals,” he said.