A FAMILY from Makokoba whose relative died at home,
sparking a Covid-19 scare has accused a police officer who attended the scene
of spreading the unfounded story that the death was due to coronavirus.
Residents in one of the city’s oldest suburbs have
reportedly started stigmatising the family, even after health experts dispelled
the rumour that Danisa Tshili, who was based in South Africa, died of Covid-19.
The family is facing challenges in buying basics as vendors
who know them are afraid to accept their money. Mourners are said to be keeping
their distance as they fear Tshili’s family members may be infected.
Tshili died on Wednesday, hours after returning from the
neighbouring country. His family yesterday said he was attacked by thugs in
South Africa and had returned to receive home care.
They said prior to being attacked, he had returned home
about a week ago to get a new emergency passport to renew his work permit that
had expired.
His sister, Ms Siphathisiwe Tshili, said when they had
called police and Doves Funeral Parlour to remove his body from the house when
an officer after checking his travelling history made ‘reckless and unfounded
claims’ that since he was in South Africa, he could have died of coronavirus.
“This is what caused Doves Funeral Services to stop the
process of retrieving his body. They removed it when they came for the third
time upon arrival of city health officials. Before his death, he had visited a
clinic in South Africa which had recommended that he be admitted so that they
monitor his situation. But considering that he had no one to take care of him
in the neighbouring country, he opted to come back home. His body was only
removed after health officers from Bulawayo City Council visited the house and
went through his medical papers,” said Ms Tshili.
She said it made no sense for the police officer to make
unsubstantiated claims when he had documents detailing his medical history.
Ms Tshili said the falsehood has resulted in neighbours and
other relatives avoiding the family as they seem to still believe members are
infected.
“Neighbours are now sceptical. Some of them do not want to
come close to us because of the fear this has caused. I wanted to buy tomatoes
at the market, but because some people who knew me refused to take my money.
After the matter was published in the paper, we also got a lot of calls from
our relatives who stay far and wide trying to understand the truth of the
matter. Some of them were even afraid to come to the funeral wake saying if it
is coronavirus, it might wipe us all as a clan,” Ms Tshili said.
She said even those who might have assisted in making
burial arrangements, may stay away from them.
Ms Tshili said if her brother had died of Covid-19, it was
automatic that the family was going to be placed on isolation but because it is
not, they are still going about burial preparations.
Area councillor Shadreck Sibanda, who was also at the
family home called for professionalism in the police force.
“We can’t have a police officer who is supposed to be
guided by professionalism being casual with information. Right now, a lot of
people in Makokoba might not know what the real truth is just because of such
reckless behaviour. I believe the Zimbabwe Republic Police should censure
officers from spreading falsehood. I also want to encourage residents to avoid
spreading information that they have not verified,” said Cllr Sibanda.
Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Abednico Ncube said
his office was not aware of the development.
“As police, we were never informed of corona. The Makokoba
incident was never linked to corona. We’re treating it as sudden death. Corona
can only be declared by a competent medical team,” said Insp Ncube.
Bulawayo has not recorded a Covid-19 case despite the
country recording seven cases, one of them fatal. Authorities have also
expressed concern over fake news circulating over Covid-19. Chronicle
0 comments:
Post a Comment