TWO Zimbabweans who died when the Synagogue Church of All Nations (Scoan) building collapsed in Nigeria last month are yet to be repatriated, while the third victim was a Zimbabwean married to a South African. BENSON DUBE OWN CORRESPONDENT
This is contrary to Zimbabwean authorities confirming that only one Zimbabwean died when the building collapsed at the church founded by the televangelist, prophet Temitope Joshua.
Those who died are Sisasenkosi Ngwenya, Jane Hwature and Greenwich Ndanga of Mutare, a member of the MDC-T. Hwature’s cousin, Cliford Mbudaya of Entumbane said his cousin was resident in South Africa, as she was now married to a South African and this made it difficult for him to say she was a Zimbabwean.
“When my cousin left for Nigeria, she was South African because of her marital status and it is a long time since she got married there.
“We do not want to talk to the press because we sent a family representative to South Africa and we do not want conflicting statements from you press people,” he said.
The South African government claimed some of the victims of the collapsed building were Zimbabwean, but travelling on passports from the neighbouring country.
Hwature’s father said he was cross to hear that TB Joshua’s wife had been in the country and wanted to know the person who saw her.
“Do you think TB Joshua would send his wife to Zimbabwe when people are mourning in South Africa? Where would she land? People are angry there might not let her through,” the visibly angry father, who declined to give his name, said before ordering our news crew to leave.
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“Who saw her because all the aircraft landed in South Africa no plane comes straight to Zimbabwe? Did she fly to the country by herself unnoticed?” he fumed.
In Mpopoma, where Sisasenkosi Ngwenya lived, a neighbour, who declined to be named, said it was of no use putting a red cloth to signal a funeral wake, as the body was yet to be brought from Nigeria through South Africa.
“When some one dies in South Africa, people do not put the red cloth until the body has been repatriated, and relatives do not gather, as it becomes very expensive to cater for the mourners,” she said.
