MUTARE – A family in Chipinge is reeling from grief and trauma after a shocking mix-up at Nyaradzo Funeral Services resulted in them burying the wrong body. The Muzwati family unknowingly laid to rest a 100-year-old woman, Eddina Gwavava, instead of their 85-year-old relative, Nerita Muyambo.
The appalling error came to light when relatives of the late Eddina Gwavava were later presented with the body of the 85-year-old Mbuya Muyambo. They immediately refused to accept the body, prompting Nyaradzo Funeral Services to investigate the matter further.
The incident occurred last Friday at approximately 11AM at Checheche graveyard in the Chipinge South constituency, according to reports in the Manica Post. The Muzwati family, mourning the loss of Nerita Muyambo, unknowingly buried the remains of Eddina Gwavava, who resided in Greenside Extension, Mutare.
Mbuya Muyambo, aged 85, passed away on 31 December 2025 after battling a long illness. She had suffered a stroke in September 2025, and her health gradually deteriorated while she was being cared for by relatives in Mutare.
Adding to the family’s distress, it has emerged that concerns were raised prior to the burial. Relatives of the 85-year-old had reportedly noticed discrepancies in the deceased’s complexion. However, their concerns were allegedly dismissed by funeral parlour staff, who attributed the differences to mortuary cosmetology and the effects of prolonged freezer storage. Tragically, the burial proceeded despite these objections.
The initial mistake occurred on New Year’s Day at around 8AM. A hearse driver from Nyaradzo Funeral Services, along with a mortician, mistakenly identified and loaded Gwavava’s body into the hearse, believing it to be that of Muyambo. The body was then transported to Checheche Growth Point, where the Muzwati family received it and proceeded with the burial the following day, unaware of the devastating error.
The truth was uncovered last Saturday during a body viewing at Nyaradzo Funeral Services’ Mutare branch. Officials informed Susan Mukoyi, the daughter of the late Muyambo, about the mix-up. Gwavava had originally been scheduled to be buried at Muzondi Village under Chief Marange in the Mutare Rural District.
Mukoyi, understandably distraught, reported the incident to ZRP Chisumbanje on Monday. She was accompanied by Nyaradzo Funeral Services manager Lazarus Bvuma, who is assisting with the preliminary procedures for the exhumation of the wrongly buried body.
Chipinge District Development Coordinator William Mashava has confirmed that the exhumation process is already underway. The incident has left both families deeply distressed and has raised serious questions about the procedures and oversight within funeral service operations.
When contacted for comment, Nyaradzo Funeral Services regional manager Dereck Ndebele declined to comment, stating that he was not the appropriate person to address the matter. The incident has prompted calls for a thorough investigation to prevent similar occurrences in the future and to ensure that families can grieve their loved ones with dignity and respect.
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