Story by Tamuka Charakupa
FAMILIES of Cyclone Idai victims who went missing during the natural disaster of 2019 have found some closure after their relatives were officially declared deceased.
Life has not been the same for 19-year-old Tanatswa Zinyeruke and her mother Mrs Tsitsi Dinda after her husband went missing during the Cyclone Idai disaster of 2019.
There is, however, a sense of closure after the government declared the missing persons as deceased, paving the way for their relatives to access legal documents such as death certificates and solve inheritance issues.
The deceased’s daughter, Tanatswa Tadiwa Zinyeruke said, “After my father went missing life changed since our mother had to raise the family by herself. We were struggling and sometimes sleeping on an empty stomach. My mother could not afford to raise money for school fees so at times I would miss school.”
“My husband left for work on Thursday and never returned. He was never seen to this day. Of course, life was difficult for me because I had to raise the family by myself. At that moment I had an infant just 8 months old. I am delighted that the government has announced the declaration of death which means that we can now obtain a death certificate which is critical for accessing other services. It was difficult to explain a situation without proof,” said Tadiwa’s mother, Mrs Tsitsi Dinda.
Fellow community members who also lost relatives during the disaster welcomed the move saying they must accept the reality and move on.
A community member, Mrs Constance Tsangamidzi said, “I lost my younger sister during the Cyclone Idai disaster. Since then I have been wondering where she went and what happened to her but now I can live with the fact that she is now confirmed dead and we have to accept reality and move on.”
“My brother and his family went missing. Now with this declaration, we can have a remembrance ceremony,” said another relative, Sobona Mutumwa.
Traditional leader, Chief Muusha added his voice saying relatives of the victims are now free to perform burial rituals.
He said, “The Government has now freed us as traditional leaders and our communities to perform their burial rituals now that a declaration has been made. Relatives of the then missing people can now access death certificates which will unlock their entitled benefits.”
The declaration, instituted through an unopposed High Court Class Action last week, means all the 279 victims who were listed as missing are now legally dead.
About 340 people were confirmed dead when Cyclone Idai hit the country in 2019, but not all bodies were recovered after some were washed away.
