Samuel Kadungure and Lovemore Kadzura
LOSING two children in awkward circumstances barely two weeks after divorcing can be a profound, difficult, catastrophic and painful experience for both parents.
The bereavement can have the most enduring stress, when the divorce is hinged on allegations of promiscuity against the deceased pair’s mother.
The least she would have wanted is a soulmate to grieve with, not an accuser.
This aptly describes the situation a grieving Ms Talent Sandako, of Odzi, finds herself in right now — having lost her two children — Blessmore Sandako (nine) and Wayne Tashaya (seven) in a swimming mishap on Monday afternoon.
The drowning incident happened around 2pm in Magamba suburb of Rusape.
Ms Sandako had relocated to Rusape, allegedly running away from her abusive husband, Mr Webster Tashaya.
She allegedly sold her two cattle to raise money for a new beginning away from her husband, but little did she know that an overwhelming eventuality — premature death of her two children — awaited her.
Blessmore and Wayne, who were not too familiar with their new environs, allegedly slipped away from their mother’s attention, and embarked on a swimming expedition that led to their premature death.
The two siblings drowned in a deep pool of water dug along a seasonal stream by water harvesters, who sell the precious liquid in push carts to clients constructing houses to mitigate acute water shortages in Rusape.
Acting Manicaland provincial police spokesperson, Assistant Inspector Wiseman Chinyoka confirmed the drowning, adding that investigations are in progress.
Blessmore and Wayne were buried next to each other in Odzi on Wednesday.
“On November 25, at around 2pm, Blessmore Sandako and Wayne Tashaya of Magamba suburb in Rusape, went to swim in a stream in the suburb.
They were in the company of their four-year-old sibling, Blessed.
Wayne drowned and when Blessmore tried to save his brother, he also drowned.
“Blessed rushed to inform their mother, Ms Sandako. She informed her neighbours and rushed to the stream to retrieve the bodies from the water. Police were informed and attended scene. The bodies were conveyed to Rusape General Hospital awaiting post-mortem,” said Assistant Inspector Chinyoka.
He urged parents and guardians to be always alert on the whereabouts of their children.
He also urged those who cannot swim to avoid entering water bodies.
“Parents and guardians are being encouraged to closely monitor the movements of their children, especially this rainy season. The public is also urged to stay away from water bodies, especially if they are not good swimmers,” he said.
While residents were left speechless, the behind the scene scenarios are more intriguing and heart wrenching.
Blessmore and Wayne were in Grades Four and One, respectively, at Gandidzanwa Primary School in Odzi.
They had left their Odzi homestead with Ms Sandako after her bitter fallout with Mr Tashaya on November 5.
Mr Tashaya allegedly caught Ms Sandako with a rival suitor in their matrimonial bedroom.
Ms Sandako was not immediately available for a comment, given her grieving state.
However, word has it that Mr Tashaya would often physically abuse her for no apparent reason, forcing her to ditch him.
In a telephone interview, Mr Tashaya, who is Wayne’s father, said the loss of his son, barely two weeks after divorcing his mother, was wrenching and presents a challenge to his family.
Publicly acknowledging the collapse of the marriage, Mr Tashaya said he had pleaded with Ms Sandako to leave behind the children.
The tone of his voice denotes the toxicity of their marriage collapse.
“Technically, we are divorced after I caught her with another man in our bedroom on November 5. I wrestled with the man until she assisted him to escape. He left behind a jacket, one shoe, cap and cellphone. We had two kids together, Wayne and Blessed. She had Blessmore, who died together with Wayne, with another man. She is my ex-wife and mother of my children,” he said, adding that the funeral was full of tension, the biggest challenge being how his family viewed his estranged ex-wife.
“The tragedy came too early, barely two week after our divorce. While I was still processing what she did to me, I received the sad news. I lost my son, and since then, I cry every day. I will never stop crying, and life will never be the same again without my precious son. I am heartbroken and devastated.
“How in the world would she run away with my children after I pleaded with her to leave them behind so that I would take care of them? Wayne returned home in a coffin, just like that, which should not have been the case. This is unacceptable.
“I probably will never get over it. Losing a child is a parent’s worst nightmare. Yes, we had divorced, and I told her to leave my children behind so that I would look after them, but she refused. What kind of heartless woman is she? She has destroyed me,” he said.
Mr Tashaya disputed claims that Ms Sandako had ditched him because of his abusive and violent nature.
“People saying that are cold, cruel and heartless. I never abused her. I only fought the man I found in my bedroom.
“We had a family meeting before collapse of our marriage. I hope the divorce will allow me to grieve in peace and mourn the loss of my son,” he said.
