Double tragedy for Dabengwa`s widow
The death of Makhumalo’s mother was only shared to mourners after the burial of Dabengwa last Saturday at Ntabazinduna
In tragic circumstances Zodwa Dabengwa lost her mother at the same time as her husband, the late national icon, Dr Dumiso Dabengwa.
Her mother, Janet Khumalo nee Ndiweni was 93 years old.
She was staying in New Magwegwe and died two days after the Dabengwa’s had left for India.
Khumalo was buried at Lady Stanley Cemetery in Bulawayo, sharing a grave with her late husband.
The death of MaKhumalo’s mother was only shared to mourners after the burial of Dabengwa last Saturday at Ntabazinduna by a Ndiweni clan elder just before introducing Chief Ndiweni to speak.
He said the news ought to have been announced before but was not due to interference and confusion by the state who tried to take over the funeral proceedings.
“When MaKhumalo left for India with Dabengwa, her mother, Dabengwa’s mother in law passed away in that space of time. MaKhumalo is mourning two deaths, as she did not bury her mother. The mother is my sister,” the clan elder noted.
The uncle said upon hearing news of her mother’s death, MaKhumalo was torn apart as to what she could do as she was away but the family advised her to continue looking after her husband.
“We comforted each other but told MaKhumalo we will do what has to be done here and we buried MaKhumalo’s mother in her absence. This is painful for us a family to deal with loss of two loved ones at once,” said the uncle.
Dabengwa 79, died May 23 in Nairobi, Kenya en-route to Zimbabwe from India where he had been rushed for medical treatment.
He was buried last Saturday at Manxeleni, Ntabazinduna, with thousands of people in attendance.
