As Chitown Gogo languishes in remand, neighbours s...

As Chitown Gogo languishes in remand, neighbours stage send-off 'gig' for Sekuru Mahlahla

Neighbours make merry during a send-off ceremony for the late Sekuru Mahlahla

Audrey Galawu

Contrary to a previous era when no one was allowed to set foot at the Mahlahlas’ homestead at Number 5 Chitsaru Street, Zengeza 3 in Chitungwiza, neighbours have since besieged it and mounted a public address system through which they played loud gospel music in celebration of the late Sekuru Mahlahla’s life.

The body of the husband of Gogo Plaxedes Mahlahla is expected at his home this afternoon, November 30, where it will not lie in state, but will immediately proceed to his rural Gwanda home for burial.

Gogo and Sekuru Mahlahla are the parents to Grant, the 36-year-old man who was reportedly domiciled in a ceiling for 14 years, with the community assuming he had travelled to the United Kingdom to live with his siblings.

“It is unfortunate that he had to end his life this way, but Old Mahlahla was one of our elders in this community who deserves a decent send-off. To this effect, we have seen it befitting as neighbours to gather and see him off in a manner that befits his stature,” said George Mwakutuya, a neighbour, in an interview.

Sekuru Mahlahla’s remains were discovered at an advanced stage of decomposition in a room at his home several days after death, leading to the arrest of his wife on charges of culpable homicide. The son, Grant, was subsequently freed, has since been referred to Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals for psychiatric evaluation, and was part of his father’s funeral procession at the time of going to press. One of his United Kingdom-based sisters, Abigail, has flown in to bid farewell to her father.

Though the body of Sekuru Mahlahla (80) was last week taken to Chitungwiza Hospital for a post-mortem, it could not be established what had caused the death. However, Gogo Mahlahla remains in remand pending bail application to the high court.

Since 1992 when the deceased suffered a stroke and was wheelchair-bound, so security-tight was the residence that no one was allowed to set foot in the yard. The neighbourhood only knew the now late husband and his detained wife as the only occupants of the eight-roomed house with a precast wall. But now that the cat is away, many in the surrounding streets have grabbed the opportunity to enter the Mahlahla premises, many with intentions to find out what it is that the lady of the house attempted to hide from the public glare all these years.

Meanwhile, the funeral parlour conducting the burial has reportedly advised relatives and friends of Sekuru Mahlahla that there shall not be viewing of the body prior to burial owing to the condition of the body.