By Nhau Mangirazi
A feud erupted between two families following death of a 14-year old girl who passed on 25 February 2019.
The body of Sofia Mudimu of Marange sect was forced out of Chivhu hospital mortuary on Thurdsay following her death due to suspected birth complications, it has been heard.
According to close relatives the deceased, Sofia was staying with her husband Samuel Taguta of Marange in Mutare.
However, her family members claim Sofia was married off when she was 13 years old last year.
Family sources revealed that her funeral wake was held at remote area of Sadza Maware in Wedza district about 130 kilometres out of Harare.
‘She was the fourth wife in the polygamous affair and she was pregnant from the marriage of last year. Sofia developed complications when she was due to give birth at home and they could not let her go to clinic or hospital resulting in her death,’ said one of our sources, a family member.
However, it is alleged there were differences over her burial with some family members insisting on post mortem while her husband wanted her buried in Bocha, Mutare.
‘After her death our family could not agree to have her buried with foetus in her womb. The husband had offered to pay a beast to the traditional leaders as per customary norm meaning they wanted to bury both the mother and the foetus which is unheard of traditionally. It was then that the matter was reported to police for a post-mortem and remove the foetus,’ said one of our sources.
Family members revealed that they had buried her in Wedza on Friday.
‘We have been called by Chivhu police to carry the body after it spent several days. We are collecting her body today after post mortem was done at Parerenyatwa,’ said one of the family members declining to be named.
But the husband Taguta gave a different version that his late wife was 19 years old and it is other family members who are creating confusion.
‘Ndakaomerwa baba handizivi kuti mudzimai wangu anovigwa rinhi (Am at loss of words as in laws have demanded for post mortem before burial).
The late Sofia wh passed on in Chivhu amid pregnancy
In a telephone interview, Taguta revealed that his late wife developed some problems while in Mutare.
‘My father offered transport to ferry her to Chivhu. She was being attacked by goblins but they are claiming that she had challenges in giving birth. Their arguments that she developed birth complications is false as she was five months pregnant. Am deeply hurt mukoma,’ he added.
Taguta claimed his late wife was 19 years old.
‘The stand-off is due to the fact some of our in-laws are not Marange church members. They have taken over everything from my father in-law Rogers Mudimu. My father paid $1055 as part of lobola to have my wife buried in our rural village in Bocha but they have refused insisting that a post mortem be carried out first. He even offered two cars so that the burial is done at our rural home after paying lobola but there is a stand-off. We are unsure when post mortem will be done as it was due to be carried on 26 February,’ he added.
He added that their family is in Mutare while their in-laws are in Wedza.
‘We were called on several times to Chivhu police station and had statements recorded. We will wait to hear from them,’ he added.
Police sources revealed that a post mortem has been carried.
‘Of course, the post mortem was carried but police needed to verify her age though there is no birth certificate. We want her mother to confirm these details but hospital want the body removed as it has overstayed,’ said our source.
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