A family from Cross Roads, Mangwe, has found themselves in a deeply unfortunate situation after exhuming the body of a Lesotho citizen, whom they mistakenly buried, believing it to be their own family member.
This unusual event took place two months after the initial burial, culminating last Friday with the proper burial of the actual deceased, Bambanani Ndebele, in the presence of officials from Zimbabwe, South Africa, and Lesotho.
In a heartfelt interview with CITE, Mike Ndebele, the deceased’s uncle, expressed his sorrow over the mix-up. “My nephew passed away in South Africa two months ago. Due to a mix-up, we were sent the wrong body, and in good faith, we buried it,” he explained, visibly distressed.
After their initial burial, the family learned of the tragic error, which prompted the Lesotho family to come forward to retrieve their loved one’s remains. It is reported that Bambanani lost his life in South Africa due to a stabbing incident.
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Despite efforts made to identify the body both in South Africa and Zimbabwe, the family faced challenges in confirming the identity. “Body viewing took place on both sides, but recognizing someone in a coffin can be quite challenging,” Ndebele remarked.
Some family members raised doubts about the identity of the deceased during the viewing, noting that the body did not resemble him, but these concerns were largely overlooked. “This has caused profound pain for us as a family,” he added.
Cultural activist Samukele Hadele emphasized the importance of proper identification during the collection and dressing of bodies. He noted that in African culture, viewing the deceased is a crucial step to show respect and to say goodbye, asserting that the responsibility of identification should not fall solely on the funeral undertakers.
