The family of slain MDC-T activist Moses Chokuda were making final arragnments for the burial of their late son yesterday evening to bring to closure the two-and-a-half-year-old murder case.
The father of the deceased, Tawengwa, confirmed he was at the police carrying out paperwork to secure the release of his son’s body from Gokwe District Hospital mortuary where the body has lain since March 22, 2009.
“We will give our son a decent burial tomorrow (today) to bring to closure the matter which has haunted our family for the past two-and-a-half years,” said Tawengwa.
This follows the conviction of Farai Machaya, son of Midlands Governor and Resident Minister and Zanu PF provincial chairman Jaison Machaya, and three others for the murder of Moses and the subsequent compensation of 20 head of cattle and $15 000 by the governor.
The four were slapped with 18-year jail terms each by High Court judge Justice Nicholas Mathonsi.
The Machayas immediately after the conclusion of the matter at court followed the traditional ritual of appeasing the spirits of the dead by paying compensation to the Chokudas.
Unconfirmed reports from Gokwe shed some light on the spiritual realm with allegations that the late Moses would be seen carrying his coffin in the deep of the night as his avenging spirit wandered around, seeking justice.
Tawengwa told NewsDay that the body of his son remained fresh even after years in the mortuary and that even though the family at one point attempted to bury him, they failed to lift the coffin.
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Speaking to NewsDay, Tawanda Chitaro of Gokwe welcomed the development.
“Who thought top Zanu PF officials can be forced to negotiate with Gono (the other name Tawengwa is referred to by his colleagues)? People should learn from other people’s mistakes,” he said. Moses’s body is scheduled to lie in state at the family home before it is carried to its final resting place this morning.
