A body mix-up at Nyaradzo Funeral Services in Mutare has left a Chipinge family traumatised after they unknowingly buried the wrong person, a 100-year-old woman, instead of their 85-year-old relative.
The blunder was uncovered when relatives of the centenarian were later presented with the body of the 85-year-old woman and refused to accept it, prompting further checks.
Relatives of the 85-year-old had reportedly raised concerns before the burial after noticing differences in the deceased’s complexion.
However, funeral parlour staff allegedly dismissed the concerns, attributing the changes to mortuary cosmetology and prolonged freezer storage.
The burial proceeded despite the objections.
The incident occurred last Friday at around 11AM at Checheche graveyard in Chipinge South constituency.
The Muzwati family buried the remains of Eddina Gwavava, 100, of Greenside Extension in Mutare, believing them to be those of their relative, Nerita Muyambo, 85, from Checheche in Chipinge. Mbuya Muyambo had died on December 31, 2025, after a long illness.
She had suffered a stroke in September 2025, with her condition deteriorating until her death while under the care of relatives in Mutare.
On New Year’s Day at around 8AM, a Nyaradzo Funeral Services hearse driver together with a mortician mistakenly identified and loaded Gwavava’s body into the hearse, believing it to be that of Muyambo.
The remains were transported to Checheche Growth Point, where they were received by the Muzwati family and buried the following day.
The mix-up came to light last Saturday during a body viewing at Nyaradzo Funeral Services’ Mutare branch. Officials then informed Susan Mukoyi, the daughter of the late Muyambo.
Gwavava had originally been scheduled to be buried at Muzondi Village under Chief Marange in Mutare Rural District.
Mukoyi reported the matter to ZRP Chisumbanje on Monday, accompanied by Nyaradzo Funeral Services manager Lazarus Bvuma, who assisted in initiating the preliminary procedures for the exhumation of the wrongly buried body.
Chipinge District Development Coordinator William Mashava confirmed that the exhumation process is already underway.
The incident has left both families distressed and has raised serious questions about procedures and oversight within funeral service operations.
Nyaradzo Funeral Services regional manager Dereck Ndebele declined to comment, saying he was not the appropriate person to address the matter.
