By Ziyah Reporter
TWO more bodies of cross-border porters commonly known as MaZalawi have been recovered in the Limpopo River and are at the Musina Hospital mortuary in South Africa, as more details about the gruesome murder on the South African side of Beitbridge emerge.
The two identified as Tamuna and another identified only as Shorty are part of the between six to 11 MaZalawi known to have been hired to carry a consignment to Zimbabwe through an illegal crossing point but were killed in rival gang violence in the banks of the Limpopo.
On Friday two of Tamuna’s relatives who refused to be identified said they had arrived in South Africa to identify the remains of the man described as with a dreadlocked hairstyle and spots on the face.
“We heard from other porters after missing him for some days that we should check with Musina Hospital where two bodies have been kept,” the relatives from HaMangavha area in Dulivhadzimu, Beitbridge said.
Tamuna and Shorty bring to four the number of MaZalawi recovered in the Limpopo River where Trust Takaedza and Fortunate Ramagom who were at Beitbridge Hospital Mortuary and have since been buried.
The four and the other unknown number were hired by two men identified as Arthur and Sanboy, both from Dulivhadzimu to carry goods from the Taxi Rank on the South African side of Beitbridge to Zimbabwe through an illegal crossing point.
But they met with rival gangs known to have clashed with Sanboy who fled leaving the MaZalawi at the mercy of he gangs with machetes who allegedly dismembered them before killing and throwing them into the Limpopo River.
The murders, deep in mystery, have send shockwaves across Beitbridge considering it appears no law enforcement is aware of the callous murders.
Even relatives of the deceased are afraid to come into the open about the known deaths which have become the talk of the border town.
At the South Africa taxi rank, where the MaZalawi typically gather to be hired for transporting goods across the border, tension is palpable.
Speaking to Ziyah News Network, sources described a sombre and fearful atmosphere, with colleagues of the deceased visibly shaken as the scale of the tragedy slowly unfolds.
Some expressed grief in hushed tones, while others avoided speaking altogether, fearing possible reprisals.
Conflicting figures continue to emerge regarding the exact number of victims, further complicating efforts to piece together what happened.
While initial reports suggested six people had disappeared, other accounts indicate the number could be as high as 11.
Background information obtained by Ziyah News Network suggests that two bodies those of Trust Takaedza and Fortunate Ramagom were earlier retrieved from the river under horrific circumstances.
Takaedza’s body reportedly had a missing hand, while Ramagom, who was from Shule Shule in Dulivhadzimu, had been dismembered. The two have since been laid to rest, with Ramagom buried in Mwenezi.
A Beitbridge Sanboy and Arthur are reportedly known people whose activities are said to in the river banks as gangsters who bring contraband through illegal crossing points.
The acting officer commanding Beitbridge Police District Superintendent Philisani Ndebele said his office was not aware of any such deaths which are said to have occured on the SA side.
Takaedza’s recovery, as is now being said, was led by his grandmother who is reported to have had a “spiritual vision” that led her to Beitbridge mortuary after his demise.