PLANS to bury the murdered Citizens’ Coalition for Change activist, Moreblessing Ali, are in motion after family lawyer and representative Job Sikhala secured his freedom earlier this week.
RUVIMBO MUCHENJE
The family had insisted since Sikhala’s arrest on 14 June 2022, that burial would only take place in the presence of their family lawyer and representative.
Tafadzwa Montgomery, sister of the deceased, told The NewsHawks that the family will deliberate on the way forward and make a media announcement. She however pointed out that the family would like some privacy in dealing with the matter.
“Thank you for reaching out. It is yet to be determined when it will be as there is a lot involved! Once an executive decision is made by our family, we will proceed. Thank you for your kindness in respecting our privacy as we soldier through this,” said Montgomery.
Moreblessing Ali was killed in cold blood by suspected Zanu PF activist Pius Mukandi alias Jamba on 25 May 2022.
Her dismembered body parts were discovered in a disused well at Laina Mukandi’s homestead in Beatrice. Laina is mother to Pius.
Jamba was apprehended days later and arraigned in court where he was found guilty of the murder and sentenced to 30 years in prison.
After the murder of the CCC activist, Sikhala was arrested and faced two charges, one of inciting public violence by saying that Ali’s death had to be avenged, and the other of obstruction of justice for accusing Zanu PF of being behind the murder of Ali, thereby misleading the police.
Sikhala was convicted of both charges and languished in prison for 595 days. He was finally released after his two-year sentence was suspended by a Harare magistrate.
A day after his release, Sikhala posted on his X account that he was saddened to learn that Ali was yet to be buried almost two years after they discovered her body.
“It’s sad that Moreblessing Ali is still not buried since my arrest. This issue needs to come to closure. I am engaging my clients, the Ali family, to make arrangements for her burial as soon as possible,” he posted.
Now that Sikhala is a free man, Montgomery says she and her family, as well as their lawyer and representative, need time to reflect.
“Just because VaSikhala (Mr Sikhala) has been released does not mean that every social media platform should come hounding us for evidence. We are asking that as a family you give us due respect, especially for the Sikhala family to do what we need to do to give Moreblessing a decent burial,” she said.
In December 2020, some members of the Ali family attempted to bury her without the knowledge of her children.
The NewsHawks went to Mabvuku cemetery and were informed that the scheduled burial had been cancelled.
