The ManicaPost
Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
Seventeen-YEAR-OLD Kudakwashe Chirigo might have by now come to terms with the death of her 19-year-old sister, Privilege, given that more than two years have lapsed since she was last seen.
Privilege is one of more than 140 people who have not been accounted for after being swept into neighbouring Mozambique by the devastating Cyclone Idai-induced-tide from different areas that were heavily affected by the tropical storm around Chimanimani and Chipinge districts.
This is what makes Kudakwashe and her family’s pain unbearable.
“As it stands, we know that she died with many other people who perished during the Cyclone Idai disaster. At the time of the cyclone she was staying at the Agritex staff quarters at Kopa in Rusitu.
“We have heard that there are efforts being made to repatriate the bodies of those who were swept into Mozambique and we hope her remains will be among those bodies. We want to ensure that my sibling gets a decent burial back home. It is not easy to lose a sister, but it is even more painful when one cannot be accounted for,” said a teary Kudakwashe.
The well known biblical concept of reunification in the second life is not what villagers in Chimanimani, whose loved ones were swept away into by the cyclone are yearning for, at least for now.
They pray for the day the remains of their loved ones will finally get a decent burial.
Hundreds of men, women and children who succumbed to the tide of the tropical storm more than two years ago are still lying in shallow and unmarked graves along the country’s border on the Mozambican side.
Shepherd Sithole, who also lost a young brother whose body was never recovered, vividly recalls how his brother was swept away after helping a number of people from the rabbles during the tropical storm.
“It is painful for me that I will not be able to see my brother again, let alone bury him. During the night of the cyclone, he assisted a number of people, about 10 who were trapped in a flooded gulley.
“As he assisted them to come out, he was hit by a rolling boulder and that was the last time we heard his voice crying for help. He was swept away. We believe he is part of the people whose bodies were recovered in Mozambique,” he said.
Ngangu Ward 15 Councillor Pangani Marongera, in whose ward 14 people have not been accounted for since the tropical cyclone, said: “For us the bodies’ repatriation programme is of paramount importance. These victims deserve decent burials.
“For us the living, we will never get over the grief of losing our loved ones as long as we do not know where they are lying. It is like one day you will see them walking in. Therefore, the trauma associated with not getting the bodies repatriated is immense.”
Chief Raymond Saurombe, who also has a good number of missing persons in his area, said: “As traditional leaders, we are concerned that the continued delay in repatriating the dead bodies is in itself a recipe for another disaster. Their spirits are not resting at all and this is highly likely to cause another disaster as they seek recognition.
“Therefore, we sincerely urge the authorities to expedite the repatriation of bodies that were swept into Mozambique so that we have a closure of this calamity.”
Manicaland Provincial Development Co-ordinator, Mr Edgars Seenza said considerable bi-lateral strides have been made to facilitate the repatriation of the bodies from Mozambique.
“We have made considerable progress in efforts to repatriate the bodies of those who were swept into Mozambique after the cyclone. Significant strides have been made at bi-lateral level, with both countries showing commitment to have this job done.
“As we speak, a pre-visit team to Mozambique has been set and we are now waiting for a date. This is something that Government is taking seriously and the process should be completed in the near future as we all understand its importance, both to the bereaved as well as the departed citizens,” said Mr Seenza.
