The ManicaPost
Tendai Gukutikwa
Weekender Reporter
Almost two months after the death of her son, a Makoni woman is yet to bury him as her late husband’s relatives insist that they cannot be part of the process as they were not informed of his ailment.
Ms Pamhidzai Mashanga of Tandi Village under Chief Makoni said her seven-year-old son, Munashe Chukera, succumbed to measles like symptoms at Victoria Chitepo Provincial Hospital on September 21.
“He developed wounds in his mouth and was coughing profusely, so I took him to Rusape General Hospital and he was transferred to Victoria Chitepo Provincial Hospital.
“When my child first felt ill, I never thought that he would die because the ailment looked minor. However, his condition rapidly deteriorated and he later died,” she said.
Sadly, Munashe’s corpse risks being accorded a pauper’s burial if it stays for six months in the mortuary without being claimed.
So far, he has been in the mortuary for seven weeks and Mashanga is failing to raise the money needed to give her late son a proper burial.
She said after she called her in-laws in Masvingo to inform them of Munashe’s death, she received a backlash from them as they demanded why they were not informed of his ailment.
“I called his paternal grandfather, Sekuru Ashford Chukera and his uncle who are in Masvingo and told them of Munashe’s death. Instead of mourning with me, they questioned me why I had not informed them that he had not been feeling well.
“They told me that my failure to inform them of my son’s ailment proved that I could meet all the funeral costs on my own. At first I thought they were joking, but I later realised that they were serious,” said Ms Mashanga.
“There are some rites that are supposed to be done by my son’s relatives before his burial, otherwise his spirit will not rest. When I mentioned this to Sekuru Chukera, he told me they do not want to be part of the burial process and advised me to look for anyone with their Soko totem to lead the process,” she said.
Sekuru Chukera’s phone went unanswered. Ms Mashanga said she is poor and does not have any other relatives, save for her brother.
She is appealing to well-wishers to help her financially so that she can lay her son to rest.
“The nurses told me that if the corpse stays for six months in the mortuary, it will be accorded a pauper’s burial. I will not be able to identify the grave. I am appealing to anyone who can assist me in raising US$250 for the burial of my son,” said Ms Mashanga.
Those willing to assist her can contact her on 0782376260.
