The remains were initially buried at Granville Cemetery in
Harare in a bizarre incident that shocked the nation.
Citing Covid-19 regulations which barred body viewing back
then, the funeral service concern buried a coffin that was stuffed with body
bags and plastics instead of Maxwell’s remains.
Yesterday, a sombre atmosphere engulfed Matoropito Village
under Chief Katerere in Nyanga as mourners gathered to pay their last respects.
Friends and relatives sobbed when Doves Funeral Services
finally delivered the correct remains confirmed through Deoxyribonucleic Acid
tests (DNA).
Addressing mourners as her brother’s coffin was being
lowered into the grave, the late Maxwell’s sister — Memory Chimwamurombe — who
was the policyholder said: “Finally my brother is at peace, his spirit has
rested, and it’s been a long journey. Whatever happened I will now leave it to
God.”
Community leaders who spoke to The Sunday Mail said the
funeral assurance company had disrespected them by not sending a representative
to address mourners.
Matoropito Village Headman, Mr Joseph Chitambara, said the
company had inflicted more pain on the
community which expected the funeral services provider to shed light on the
mistakes that caused the initial burial boob.
“We thought they would send someone to at least give a word
of comfort to the bereaved family, instead they dispatched a driver. “Everyone
here is not happy. As traditional leaders, we had issues we needed to iron out
with them before burial.”
However, the Chimwamurombe family acknowledged that Doves
Funeral Services provided the coffin and some of the food at the funeral.
Family spokesperson Mr Adam Chimwamurombe said he was at peace that Maxwell
could finally rest.
“We are glad that he can now finally rest, we have had
challenges and some friction with Doves when we were trying to reach common
ground.
“The negotiations took long, and after such an experience
we just concluded that we needed to let our relative rest after one year and
two months,” he said.
He said the family had cleared all outstanding issues with
the funeral services company.
Doves Funeral Services spokesperson Mr Innocent Tshuma said
the company remained apologetic to the Chimwamurombe family.
“This has been a very difficult time for the Chimwamurombe
family. In the spirit of Ubuntu, as Doves, we pray the laying to rest of their
loved one, Maxwell, will begin the process of closure and healing,” he said in
a text message.
Maxwell drowned in the flooded Nyamombe River in Nyanga in
March last year and his body could not be found for weeks.
When it was discovered, it was at an advanced state of
decomposition and some of his body parts were scattered on the riverbank.
The remains were reportedly collected in a plastic bag and
sent to Harare.
Strangely, the undertaker who was to take the body for
burial left with the coffin only containing blankets and body bags.
Some workers at Doves Funeral Services later discovered
their slip-up, but instead of informing the family, the funeral parlour buried
Maxwell’s remains at Granville Cemetery in Harare, inside a coffin containing
the body of a pauper.
Doves faces two counts of fraud . Investigations into the
matter are understood to be still ongoing. Sunday Mail
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