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With morgues full, Zimbabweans struggle with surge in Covid burials

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BY NYASHA CHINGONO

HARARE – A group of women sing hymns at the cemetery in Harare as undertakers, dressed in Covid-19 protective gear, gently lower a white casket into the grave.

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“This world is not our home,” they sing, as relatives, standing a few metres away, mourn their loss.

The deceased is a 31-year-old man, who died from coronavirus. He arrived at the hospital too late to be helped.

As this group of mourners leave, another hearse pulls up at Warren Hills cemetery to bury another Covid-19 victim.

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About half a dozen burials will be conducted in quick succession over the day in an effort to keep up with the grim task of burying Zimbabwe’s dead, as the third wave of the virus continues to claim hundreds of lives every week.

According to the Ministry of Health and Child Care, almost half of the country’s total Covid deaths up to that point occurred in July.

Over the course of the month, 58,996 infections were recorded, the highest since the beginning of the pandemic, and more than 1,700 people died.

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To date, a total of 3,826 deaths have been recorded by the World Health Organization since March last year.

The huge increase has overwhelmed undertakers, resulting in delayed burials, authorities have admitted.

Outside one of Zimbabwe’s biggest undertakers in central Harare, dozens of bereaved people wait impatiently to be seen.

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Some have waited for three days, as the company struggles to cope.

Philip Mataranyika, the owner of Nyaradzo Funeral Services, said: “Because there have been many deaths, the end-of-life industry has been under immense pressure, resulting in delays all round.

“Burial of our beloved ones has been delayed by a day or two.”

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With bodies piling up in morgues, Mataranyika pleaded with Zimbabweans to observe Covid protocols.

“Our hospitals are full of the sick, and our morgues are full of the dead,” he said.

“ Our colleagues on the frontline in the health sector are doing all they can to save lives.

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“At times their efforts are not rewarded, resulting in the loss of life, and this has happened on occasions too numerous to mention. Each time this has happened, morgues have borne the brunt,” he says.

“I implore you, fellow countrymen, to observe the World Health Organixation guidelines and those issued by our government so we can be safe and avoid infection.”

An undertaker who works at the Nyaradzo funeral home, but did not want to be identified, said he was preparing 30 bodies for burial each day.

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“I identify about 30 bodies a day and most of them are Covid-related,” he said.

“ July was really busy; I sometimes knocked off around midnight.

“This has taken a huge toll on my body too as I am always tired. The third wave has killed a lot of people.

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“Delays have been happening due to strained resources; we cannot execute all burials at once.

“We are now doing a booking system and if we reach a certain number, like 30, we defer the burial to the following day.”

Dozens of graves are being dug every day as demand for spaces has more than tripled over the past two months.

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Jairos Mutseyami (37), a gravedigger at Warren Hills cemetery, said: “I am always exhausted after work.

“It is also tough to work under such conditions – I am in constant fear of getting Covid. Only God keeps us here.”

Beven Mudepu (35), who sells wreaths from a stall outside Nyaradzo undertakers, says mourners were buying up to 30 wreaths a day last month.

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“We see hundreds coming to the parlour daily and some unlucky ones can wait up to three days to get their relatives’ bodies,” Mudepu said.

“ They say there is no capacity to deal with the surge in deaths.”

Norman Matara, president of the Zimbabwe Association of Doctors for Human Rights, said frontline workers were hopeful that Covid-19 deaths will decline with the end of the southern hemisphere winter.

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“It seems we are now on the peak of the third wave, although the cases are still high,” he said.

“We expect the death rate to go down soon. But people are dying – we are seeing about 60 to 70 deaths a day, even up to 90, and that is a lot of lives lost.”

Matara warned the public against complacency.

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People with severe symptoms should report to hospital sooner, he said, as delays have been a major cause of fatalities.

“People are using unconventional means to cure Covid and when they see that it is not working, they come to the hospitals. [By then] it would be too late to deal with such cases,” he said.

Zimbabwe is pinning its hopes on its largely successful vaccination programme.

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More than than million people have so far received at least a single dose.

Late last month, the country authorised the use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, the first vaccine made in the west to be approved in Zimbabwe, which already has Chinese vaccines, the Indian-developed Covaxin and Russia’s Sputnik V. – The Guardian 

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In the community

Human-wildlife conflict claims 18 lives in Zimbabwe’s first quarter

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BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI 

The Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) has reported a disturbing trend of human-wildlife conflict in the country’s first quarter of 2025. According to the authority, 18 people have lost their lives, and 32 others have been injured in encounters with wildlife.

ZimParks spokesperson Tinashe Farawo revealed that the authority received 579 cases of human-wildlife conflict, which they managed to respond to promptly. The incidents have also resulted in significant livestock losses, with at least 53 cattle and 85 goats killed by wildlife.

The districts most affected by these incidents include Binga, Hwange, Kariba, Chiredzi, Hurungwe, Nyaminyami, and Mbire. ZimParks has been working tirelessly to raise awareness about wildlife behaviors and effective preventive measures in these areas.

In response to the crisis, ZimParks has translocated 129 animals back into protected areas and eliminated 158 animals deemed problematic.

“We encourage communities to continue reporting incidents to ZimParks Problem Animal Control numbers and local leadership, such as Councillors, Traditional Leaders, and Rural District Council Authorities, to ensure that we preserve lives,” Farawo urged.

The significant increase in livestock losses, with cattle deaths rising from 18 to 53 and goat deaths from 21 to 85 compared to the same period in 2024, highlights the growing challenge of human-wildlife conflict in Zimbabwe.

ZimParks’ efforts to mitigate the conflict include community initiatives to educate people on managing wildlife encounters effectively.

 

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In the community

Crocodile attacks claim 9 lives, injure 11

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BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

A surge in crocodile attacks has left a trail of death and destruction in Zimbabwe, with 9 fatalities and 11 injuries reported in the last two months.

According to a statement released by the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks), 49 human-crocodile conflict cases were recorded during the same period, resulting in the loss of 44 cattle and 60 goats.

The Mid-Zambezi region, which includes Lake Kariba, Angwa River, and Hunyani River, was the hardest hit, with 19 cases reported. The Central region recorded 14 cases, while 16 cases were reported in other areas, including Matopo, Harare, North-West Matabeleland, and South-East Low-veld.

ZimParks has urged communities to exercise extreme caution, especially around water bodies, during the current rain season. The authority has advised communities to ensure that livestock and children are not left unattended near rivers or lakes, and to take precautions when engaging in water activities such as fishing, swimming, and domestic chores.

To mitigate the situation, ZimParks is working closely with local authorities and conservation partners to raise public awareness and promote safety practices. The authority has emphasized its commitment to finding a balance between ensuring public safety and conserving wildlife.

As the situation continues to unfold, ZimParks has appealed to the public to remain vigilant and to report any crocodile sightings or attacks to the authorities.

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Nkayi

Nkayi man sentenced to 20 years for murdering patron

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BY STAFF REPORTER

In a High Court circuit sitting in Hwange, a 23-year-old man from Gwelutshena was sentenced to 20 years in prison for murder.

Mtabisi Ndimande was convicted of killing a 39-year-old man in a brutal axe attack that occurred on August 5, 2024, at DZ Sports Bar in Inyathi.

The court heard that Ndimande had been drinking beer with the deceased when an argument ensued.

Despite intervention from a security guard, Ndimande pulled out an axe and struck the deceased on the head.

The blow caused the deceased to collapse, while the axe remained embedded in his head. The offender then removed the axe and walked away.

The deceased bled profusely and was taken to the hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries on August 6, 2024.

The police responded to the scene and recovered the axe.

 

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