HARARE – The state was Wednesday forced to abandon burial on Moreblessing Ali’s mutilated remains after the slain Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC)’s children and other family members fiercely protested the controversial move arguing they had the final word on their late parent’s burial.
Ali, who was killed between May and June this year following her abduction in her Nyatsime home area May 24, was set for a pauper’s burial this Wednesday at a Mabvuku cemetery in Harare.
Her children – Nyasha and Silence Ali – strongly protested being side-lined from the process after they were notified just nine hours prior to the time that had been set for her internment.
A suspected pauper’s burial was set to take place in the early hours of Wednesday fronted by a family faction that was agreeable to the controversial process.
Nyasha told ZimLive that she was not aware of the burial arrangements.
“They have abandoned their plan to bury our mother without our consent as children,” she said.
“I’m relieved it did not go according to their plan because a lot of relatives were angry and protested against such inhuman acts.”
“They took the body and we don’t know where the body was since Monday. We are not even sure if it’s the body of our mother and they just added that we will do paperwork as early as possible,” Nyasha said.
Sources said Ali’s pauper burial was to be convened by 20 people including suspected state agents.
ZimLive could not readily seek comment from organisers of the foiled burial attempt.
Ali, who was 46, was allegedly abducted by one Pius Jamba as she was leaving a bar at Chibhanguza Shopping Centre in the Nyatsime area outside Chitungwiza on May 24.
Her decomposing body was found dumped at a homestead belonging to the suspect’s mother’ at Dunnoter farm in the farming community of Beatrice outside Harare.
Ali’s alleged killer was arrested 16 June after a three-week manhunt.
Her killing whipped up political emotions followed with fierce clashes between Zanu PF and CCC supporters during her funeral wake in June.
The activist’s remains had not been buried nearly six months after her shock murder.
