adminWalter Mswazie Masvingo Correspondent
A ZIMBABWEAN woman, Naume Garusa (40), who was beheaded in Durban, South Africa, during a raging wave of xenophobic attacks, was buried in Chiredzi last week amid high emotions of relatives and the traditional leadership. Chief Tshovani, who attended the burial which took place on Wednesday in Chompani village, said the whole area had been plunged into mourning and called on Sadc and the African Union to stop the madness which has destroyed the spirit of ubuntu.
He said body viewing was limited to a few mourners of stable disposition as the body was severed, with the head, hands and two legs on their own.
Naume is survived by a son, Brian (22), a second year student at the University of Zimbabwe.
“It was a sorry state. These barbaric acts should end forthwith. Sadc and AU should ensure that xenophobia is not allowed to reign in Africa,” Chief Tshovani said.
Naume’s brother, Richard, said she had been working as a maid for a couple that lived in Durban for six years.
“On the day she was found dead, in Houghton, there was no electricity due to Eskom’s power cuts. On Monday last week at around 6am, she received a call on her mobile, according to MTN call history. She again received another call from the same unknown number at around 9am,” he said.
He alleged that Naume talked to someone through the intercom before she went out and that was the last time she was seen, only for her decapitated body to be found in a plastic bag, just a kilometre from the house.
“We cannot rule out xenophobia attacks given the timing. The motive is unknown but we strongly suspect that it is xenophobia,” said Richard.
Chiredzi South House of Assembly member Retired Brigadier General Callistos Gwanetsa, who also attended the funeral, said Chiredzi district was one of the most affected by xenophobia as most families had children working in South Africa.
He said those who wanted to return would be assisted by Government.
Chief Tshovani said on Tuesday, they received about 50 victims of xenophobia from South Africa who were transported to their respective destinations in Government-hired buses and some of them had head and body injuries following the barbaric attacks.
He said Zimbabweans, especially from Chiredzi enjoyed cordial relations with their South African counterparts as most people from Chief Sengwe’s area buy products from that country’s Thohoyandou town, given its proximity to the border.
He said it was a 30 minutes walk or 10 minutes drive from Chief Sengwe’s homestead to Thohoyandou and most villagers cross into South Africa to buy groceries on a daily basis.
At least seven people have been killed and 5 000 displaced in xenophobic attacks which started last month in South Africa.
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