A Chipinge family has been plunged into shock and grief after a serious error at Nyaradzo Funeral Services resulted in the burial of the wrong body.
The mix-up involved two deceased women — Nerita Muyambo (85) of Checheche in Chipinge and Eddina Gwavava (100) from Greenside Extension in Mutare. Believing they were burying Muyambo, the Muzwati family unknowingly laid Gwavava to rest.
According to Manica Post, the mistake only came to light days later when Gwavava’s relatives were presented with a body they immediately said was not their loved one. This prompted further checks at Nyaradzo Funeral Services’ Mutare branch.
Concerns had reportedly been raised by Muyambo’s family before the burial after they noticed differences in the deceased’s complexion. Funeral parlour staff allegedly dismissed these concerns, attributing the changes to mortuary cosmetics and extended freezer storage. Despite the family’s objections, the burial proceeded.
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The burial took place last Friday at around 11am at Checheche graveyard in Chipinge South constituency.
Muyambo died on December 31, 2025, following a long illness. She had suffered a stroke in September and had been under the care of relatives in Mutare. On New Year’s Day, a hearse driver and mortician reportedly misidentified the bodies and loaded Gwavava’s remains instead of Muyambo’s.
The body was transported to Checheche Growth Point, where it was received by the Muzwati family and buried the following day. Gwavava had been scheduled to be buried at Muzondi Village under Chief Marange in Mutare Rural District.
The error was discovered during a body viewing the following Saturday, when Nyaradzo officials alerted Muyambo’s daughter, Susan Mukoyi. Mukoyi later reported the matter to police at Chisumbanje, accompanied by Nyaradzo manager Lazarus Bvuma, who assisted in initiating preliminary procedures for exhumation.
Chipinge District Development Coordinator William Mashava confirmed that the exhumation process is now under way.
The incident has left both families deeply distressed and raised serious questions about identification procedures and oversight within funeral service operations.
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