The family of Tapiwa Makore, a 7-year-old Murewa boy who was allegedly murdered by his uncle and his herdsman in September last year has rejected a state-assisted funeral to bury the remains of their son.
Tapiwa is set to be buried on Saturday (tomorrow) at the Makore family home in Murewa.
The Makore family spokesperson Beular Musupai said a state-assisted funeral was of no benefit to the family when police have not concluded their investigations and the suspects have not been tried and convicted. She said:
What is more painful as a family is, we are burying the remains of Tapiwa without his head which is a first in our family and community to lay to rest a half body.
This is the 7th month since his death and our queries have not been answered by the relevant authorities, why it has taken so long to concluded investigations.
Doors have completely been shut in our face as we seek to find answers on investigations. So as a family we have agreed that we do not need any state-assisted funeral to bury the remains of our child without his head.
What is so important about the state-assisted funeral at this hour of burial. We do not need any assistance to bury his remains. We will use the little resources that we have.
For seven months, where has the state been and it wants to assist us now when they cannot assist with answers on how the investigations are going.
Tapiwa was murdered by his uncle and namesake Tapiwa Makore (Snr) with the assistance of his herdboy Tafadzwa Shamba for alleged ritual purposes.
Musupayi earlier said the Makore family will have to limit the number of mourners at the boy’s burial in line with COVID-19 protocols.