Staff Reporter

The family of a Gweru murdered man buried a wrong corpse after a mix up which saw the body of their relative being also taken to Somabhula for last rites.

Takudzwa Chipadza and  Courage Sibanda were both murdered in Mkoba 14 and 16 respectively last week and their relatives mixed up the bodies at the Gweru Provincial Hospital mortuary.

According to the Zimbabwe Republic Police Chipadza’s family mistakenly collected the body of Sibanda and buried it at Mutasa Cemetery, Clifton Park, Gweru.

“On the 06th of December 2023, it is alleged that Takudzwa Chipadza’s relatives went to Gweru Provincial Hospital mortuary where they mistakenly collected the body of the late Courage Sibanda instead of Takudzwa Chipadza’s body. They buried the body of Courage Sibanda on the 7th day of December 2023 at Mutasa Cemetery, Clifton Park, Gweru.

On the 07th of December 2023, the late Courage Sibanda’s relatives went to the same hospital mortuary to collect his body but instead, the collected the body of Takudzwa Chipadza. They took the body to Somabhula for burial and the matter came to light the following day during body viewing when the father of the deceased discovered that it was not his son,” said Midlands Police Spokesperson Emmanuel Mahoko.

Mahoko said the family advised Gweru Provincial Hospital authorities about the incident and Chipadza’s relatives were engaged. Upon identification of the body, both families agreed that the body which had been brought back was that of Takudzwa Chipadza. Courage Sibanda had been mistakenly buried.

“The exhumation of Courage SIBANDA’s body was granted by the relevant authorities and it was exhumed on the 14th of December 2023. Both bodies will be buried on 15 December 2023, Courage Sibanda in Somabhula and Takudzwa Chipadza at Mutasa Cemetery in Gweru.

As Police, we encourage bereaved families to take their time in identifying their dead relatives and be satisfied before burial to avoid such occurrences,” said Inspector Mahoko.