The family of slain opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) activist Moreblessing Ali yesterday vowed that her remains will not be buried until their lawyer, Job Sikhala, has been freed.

Their remarks come after an alleged attempt by the State to have a pauper burial for Moreblessing on Wednesday. Family members resisted the plan and threatened legal action. Ali’s mother, Judith Chisiiwa told NewsDay on Thursday:

Sikhala helped us a lot when we were searching for our daughter. He went out of his way to ensure everything was in order, including providing legal representation. When Moreblessing was found, her body was already decomposing and burial won’t change a thing for us. We are prepared to wait.

It’s very difficult for us as a family, but we will not back down. Right now we can’t even imagine getting another lawyer on this matter because we know that we have worked with Sikhala.

It is alleged that a distant uncle had approached some relatives informing them that there was intent to bury Ali’s remains on Wednesday at Mabvuku Cemetary.

The attempt failed after the funeral parlour which was handling the burial cancelled the arrangement.

Asked by NewsDay to give an account of what transpired yesterday, Moreblessing Ali’s mother said details were still sketchy.

Ali was killed between May and June this year following her abduction in her Nyatsime home area on May 24. Her alleged killer, Pius Mukandi, alias Jamba was arrested on 16 June after a three-week manhunt.

Ali’s lawyer, Job Sikhala was arrested during the clashes and accused of inciting public violence which erupted on 14 June and he remains behind bars. Sikhala, the Zengeza West Member of Parliament has been denied bail 10 times.

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