Controversial send-off for bishop

06 Aug, 2021 - 01:08 0 Views
Controversial send-off for bishop

The ManicaPost

Lovemore Kadzura
Rusape Correspondent

THE late Vapostori VaJesu Apostolic Sect founder and leader, Bishop Abisha Murimba was last week buried in Rusape at a funeral snubbed by his first wife, children and kinsmen.

Bishop Murimba was buried at the plot he was staying with his second wife, Ms Eneresi Chizema, in Temaruru Village against the wishes of his first wife and his siblings who wanted him buried at his Marange home in Chegore Village.

He had 10 children with his first wife and seven with Ms Chizema.

Bishop Murimba’s sons, with the support of their aunts and uncles, had spiritedly tried to stop Ms Chizema from burying him (Bishop Murimba) in Temaruru.

They mounted a court challenge at Rusape Civil Court in which they argued that Bishop Murimba’s wish was to be buried in Marange as per family tradition.

When the case was brought before him, presiding magistrate, Mr Gift Manyika ruled that the court had no jurisdiction over such cases since Ms Chizema was already in possession of a burial order.

He dismissed the matter with costs.

While the Murimba family was contemplating rushing to Mutare to file a High Court interdict, Ms Chizema and her children proceeded to Rusape General Hospital and collected the bishop’s body for burial in Temaruru.

Stung by the court’s decision and Ms Chizema’s unwavering stance, the Murimba family boycotted the funeral proceedings and returned to Marange.

Ms Chizema who was represented by Mr Leonard Chigadza of Chigadza and Associates told the court that Bishop Murimba had abandoned his Marange home in 1987 over irreconcilable differences with his first wife.

“I was customarily married to Abisha Murimba in 1987 when he relocated from Marange. We established our home at Village 37, Temaruru, where he was staying up to the time of his death. We were blessed with seven children.

“Murimba had irreconcilable differences with the applicants, especially his son, Tendai, who even assaulted him on many occasions. I have been with the deceased during his lifetime, illness and death. He indicated he wishes to be buried at his plot at Temaruru. He never communicated the alleged wish to be buried in Marange.

“The request by the applicants is based on cruelty and a desire to make me and my children suffer as it is against our religious beliefs and customs,” argued Ms Chizema in her affidavit.

 

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