FATIGUED, ANGRY, DESPERATE

• Murdered Murehwa boy’s family cries for help
• Begs prophets, traditional healers
• 3 months no DNA results, burial on hold indefinitely
• ‘Our wounds remain fresh’

By Daniel Kachere

Slain Tapiwa Makore (7)’s family has expressed frustrations over delayed DNA test results, which they need to enable them to bury his body.
Tapiwa was allegedly murdered by his uncle Tapiwa Makore (Senior) and a his helper three months ago.

He is yet to be buried.
Since his murder in September, the Makores have been eagerly awaiting the DNA results in order to map the way forward in terms of burial.
Monday morning, the Makores came out in numbers at Harare High Court carrying placards with the intention of demonstrating but family lawyer Tabitha Charlene Chikeya advised them against the idea as they had not sought permission from the police.
There was tension outside the court, with family and friends seemingly ready to take the law into their own hands.
Speaking to the media outside Harare High Court Monday, Tapiwa’s father Munyaradzi Makore said the family was in great pain as those arrested for the alleged murder were unwilling to reveal the whereabouts of his son’s missing body parts.
“There is nothing else that we can do. We are just waiting for the DNA results. We are in great pain. It is now three months since he was murdered. We are unable to do any form of work and mourners are still gathered since then … If only the results come out in time so that we bury what is there, freeing the gathered mourners,” Makore lamented.
“We were hopeful that since the accomplices in the case have been arrested, they could at least reveal where they hid the head but up to now nothing has transpired.”
The boy’s mother Linda Munyori, who spoke through sobs, said she was worried about the pace at which the case was moving.
“I am not sure how the process is being handled as we were promised that the DNA results would be out after 21 days but it has now been three months. I am unable even to do my daily chores such as going to the field with the hope that any day we would be informed of the results.
“The other painful part is that those arrested after being implicated in the murder are not willing to disclose the whereabouts of Tapiwa’s head,” she said.
Makore village head Michael Mavhura said the DNA results had taken too long to come out and that traditionally it was taboo to wait for such a period before burying the body.
“(It) has taken too long, even traditionally; keeping body parts for such a period has never been witnessed. As family we could have just buried the available parts but so far two sets of DNAs have been taken and we are awaiting the third set to be taken but it is taking too long.”
Mavhura called those with the necessary expertise to come on board so that the process is quickly finalised.
“Our wounds remain fresh. If only we had buried the boy, probably we could be feeling consoled, but the fact that no burial has been done keeps us in great pain,” Mavhura said.
The boy’s uncle Isaac Makore said the family was willing to take any form of assistance from anyone around the world to assist them in locating the boy’s head so that they overcome the predicament before them.
“We seek assistance from anyone who can … We have visited traditionalists in a bid to be helped to locate the head but this has not yielded any fruit at all.
“There are so many popular prophets and traditional healers out there. We plead for them to come forward and help us locate the head so that we at least have peace of mind while the law deals with those arrested. Why can’t they come out and assist us,” he said.
On September 24 this year police arrested Tafadzwa Shamba , Tapiwa (Senior’s) herd boy on suspicion of conniving to kill the boy after drugging and abducting him later on chopping off his head, arms and legs.
Shamba was allegedly promised US$1 500 to commit the murder. He told the police that he cut off the head with a knife late at night, while the boy’s uncle was holding a torch.
Shamba said after the murder, he carried a black plastic bag containing the head and the dismembered body while his employer, Tapiwa Makore (Senior), carried another bag containing the arms and legs.
“I went to the kitchen hut and brought the boy sadza and dried fish. I washed his hands before giving him the food. After eating, I went to Mrs Katsande’s homestead where I bought five litres of illicit brew (kachasu).
“I drank the beer to gather courage. I also put a bit of sugar into the brew and offered it to the boy who took it until he got drunk and slept. I then locked him up in the room before going back to Mrs Katsande’s homestead for more beer,” he said.
On 27 September the police pounced on the boy’s uncle, Tapiwa Makore (Senior) suspected of working with Shamba during the heinous act.
End of October police arrested Moud Hunidzarira, a third suspect in Budiriro following a tip-off by the public.
On 12 November, after receiving a tip-off, police arrested Thanks Makore who is also the boy’s uncle in connection with the ritual murder of his nephew. Allegations are that he is the one who was given the boy’s head and arms.
His arrest saw police spending over 10 hours at his Damofalls homestead searching for Tapiwa’s head, but all those efforts produced nothing. Nhau/Indaba