Zimbabwe News Online: Inlaws demand house as appeasement for dead relative

Inlaws demand house as appeasement for dead relative
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Chronicle on 07 September, 2010 12:58:00
 
Police at Mbizo (Garandichauya) Police Station confirmed the incident yesterday.
Close sources said the family was demanding that the in-laws pay them the house
upfront as lobola, before they could engage each other on the burial issue.
The sources said the woman died last Thursday and the dispute over the body had
resulted in the police intervening in an attempt to find a solution to the
impasse.
They said the deceased’s family members, led by the brother to the now
deceased, Mr Aaron Chengoma, were also reportedly demanding that the in-laws buy
a state-of-the-art casket and meet the funeral costs in addition to the house.
The body of the now deceased, a Ms Junior Chengoma, is reportedly still at a
city funeral parlour while the in-laws have since sought police intervention at
Mbizo Police Station.
Police at Mbizo Section Police Station were by yesterday evening still trying to
engage the two families in a bid to resolve the matter.
“The police came into the picture after the husband to the now deceased, Mr
John Nzuma, allegedly tried to commit suicide by throwing himself onto the path
of a moving train following the impasse over his wife’s burial. Junior
Chengoma was supposed to be buried at the weekend,” said a relative of the
deceased’s husband, speaking on condition of anonymity.
The relative said Mr Nzuma was by yesterday still being closely monitored at the
family house in Old Mbizo, as they feared that he could still commit suicide.
“Chances of the families reaching an amicable solution which could bring about
the burial of the deceased are fading by the day. Mr Chengoma is refusing to
budge despite several efforts to solve the issue amicably. The matter has since
been reported to the police at Mbizo Police Station but nothing has changed as
the Member-in-Charge of the police station who is said to be the right person to
address such issues, is reportedly busy at the moment,” said a man who claimed
to be a mediator speaking from Mbizo Police Station.
Police at the station yesterday confirmed the incident saying they were going to
address the two families involved as soon as they could.
“The station’s Member-in-Charge is attending to some auditors here. He could
not address both families today (yesterday) and will only be able to do so
probably tomorrow (today). The two families have been at the police station
since morning,” said a police officer at the police station.
Both families were still at the police station by yesterday evening with little
sign that the matter would be resolved amicably. Speaking from Mbizo Police
Station, one of the mediators who refused to be named said the situation was
getting worse with Mr Chengoma making fresh demands as negotiations continued.
“It seems we are getting nowhere as the relatives of the deceased continue to
make more demands. They are now arguing that their in-laws did not pay them
anything as lobola for the past 17 years that their daughter was married to Mr
Nzuma,” he said.
The mediator confirmed that Mr Chengoma was demanding that the in-laws meet all
the burial costs, including buying a casket for his deceased sister, besides
demanding a house as lobola.
“I have tried to intervene and a find a lasting solution to the matter. I have
pledged to assist by buying a grave and assist in meeting all the funeral costs.
I am doing this because I have known both families for many years,” said the
mediator.
Mr Chengoma told Chronicle that he wanted his in-laws to surrender the title
deeds for their family house in Old Mbizo as some form of surety that they would
reimburse him his money that he used to buy a casket and for the funeral
parlour.
“The problem is that I have already bought the casket that we feel is suitable
for my sister to be buried in. I gave the funeral parlour my driver’s licence
and title deeds of my shop in the city centre as security for them to release my
sister’s body and provide us with the casket,” he said.
Mr Chengoma accused his in-laws of being irresponsible.
“They have been staying with the now deceased for the past 17 years and have
not paid a single cent and how do you think we can be co-operative given that
situation?” he said.
Efforts to get a comment from the in-laws were fruitless yesterday.