Villagers riled by midnight burial. . . After man buries grandson at 4am

Danisa Masuku
COMMUNITY members in Silobela,A� Midlands province, under Chief Malisa, were left shocked by a man who allegedly buried his grandson at dawn in secrecy.

Speaking to B-Metro, Petros Sibanda (65) of Siyaphambili village said he had no choice but to bury his grandson at around 4am on 8 July.

a�?My son informed me on 8 July at around midnight that my grandson had died and they were coming to bury him.

They arrived at 2am from Kwekwe with his wife and five men. We started digging the grave at around 2.30am and buried him at 4am,a�?said Sibanda.

He said that they left soon after because his daughter-in-law was not feeling well.

According to Sibanda, he informed villagers that he would be burying his grandson but no one attended.

A neighbour, Moses Moyo, expressed shock at the strange incident and challenged Sibandaa��s claim that he had been informed of the burial.

a�?I am his neighbour but I wasna��t informed about the burial. I only saw the grave in the morning as he was warming himself by the fire. Before I asked him, he informed me that they buried the deceased during the wee hours. I was shocked because I have never witnessed such a thing in my life,a�? he said.

The village head, Albert Nyoni said Sibanda failed to show him the necessary documents for burial.

a�?After I heard of his shameful act I asked for a burial order and a post-mortem. He failed to produce them because they are with his son. We ordered him to go and fetch them but he has not done so. He is always giving excuses,a�? he said.

According to headman Philip Sayi, Sibandaa��s story did not add up.

a�?I dona��t believe they buried an actual person. It is shocking that they buried the person during the night and that no community members were informed of the funeral and were unable to attend. He didna��t even inform his relatives, and there are some who stay near his homestead. In order to prove to the community leadership that he buried his grandson, we want the body to be exhumed,a�? he said.

Chief Malisa said that Sibanda had brought shame to the community and would be charged for the transgression.

a�?What he did worries us because he has lived here for more than 16 years, but he chose not to follow community norms. After the police are done with their investigations, Sibanda will have to pay a fine of a cow to cleanse the community,a�? he said.

However, Chief Malisa also blamed the police for taking too long to conclude the matter.

a�?After the matter was reported to me I referred it to the police, but the problem is that they are taking too long to finalise it and I believe this is a sign of incompetence on their part,a�? he said.

Member of Parliament for Silobela a�� Midlands constituency Mthokozisi Manoki Mpofu said he suspected they buried the deceased without private parts or there was nothing that was put in the grave.

a�?The way they rushed to bury the person within two hours raises a lot of suspicions. I suspect the child was murdered for ritual purposes and that is why they had to bury the deceased during the dead of the night so that no one sees their strange doing. On the other hand, there could be nothing in the grave since no one witnessed the burial,a�? he said.

Acting Midlands police spokesperson Ethel Mukwende said she was out of office as such she could not comment on the matter.