DOVES Funeral Services says it is investigating an incident at their parlour which has seen the company being accused by a Nyanga family of burying an empty coffin before giving the relative a pauper’s burial six months later.
The late Maxwell Chimwamurombe passed away after a drowning incident in March this year before his dismembered body was transferred to Doves’ morgue in the capital.
The Chimwamurombe family is now accusing the funeral parlour of “negligence” after it buried an empty casket in Nyanga.
After realising their mistake, Doves is alleged to have in August this year gone on to bury Maxwell’s remains in a “mass grave” at Granville Cemetery in Harare without the knowledge of his relatives.
Following the accusations, Doves has instigated an internal investigation to get to the bottom of the matter.
“First and foremost, as Doves we greatly empathise with the Chimwamurombe family during this difficult time.
“The said matter was brought to our attention by one of our employees and we are currently carrying out a full investigation,” Doves group public relations manager Innocent Tshuma said.
“After getting wind of this information, Doves executive management immediately initiated a process to inform the family.
“We went through to Nyanga and as per the customs of the land we engaged village chiefs and headman (Chief Saunyama and Chief Katerere) to help us engage the family.
“A police detail also accompanied the Doves team to the deceased’s homestead. A series of meetings were subsequently held with the family on October 22, 2021 wherein we informed the family of the suspected anomaly and sought their support in investigating the entire burial circumstances.”
Tshuma added that a follow up meeting was held with the deceased’s family on Monday.
“The meeting sought to find a way forward and initiate the exhumation process at both burial sites involving the deceased families. As Doves, we are committed to a full investigation of the matter and bring it to completion,” he said.
“We, therefore, implore the family and all stakeholders involved to walk with us as we follow the due process.
“We are fully cognisant of the emotional stress the family is going through and as management we are keen on getting to the bottom of the matter which will ultimately lead to an amicable settlement of the matter.
“As Doves, we are fully committed to operating in a professional and transparent way which has been the hallmark of our operations for over a century,” Tshuma added.
The family, through their legal practitioners, ChimwaMurombe Legal Practice, wrote to Doves on Wednesday demanding a swift resolution to the issue.
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“We wish to draw your attention to the fact that your high-powered delegation which included two directors, the human resources executive, the group PR manager and the Chaplin approached our office creating a perception of acknowledging your organisation’s negligent, injurious and criminal conduct.
“Our clients availed themselves all the way from the rural areas in Avila and Kanyimo, Nyanga, with the conciliation expectation of a repentant and sympathetic organisation.
“We cannot say that was achieved. Your delegation blew hot and cold when asked…on whether they accepted the facts amounting to your criminal, negligent and injurious conduct,” the lawyers wrote to Doves.
“Your high-powered delegation only accepted the fact that ‘something was wrong’, but not any specific fact. We find that insulting. As you might be aware, you have reopened the funeral to our client and a swift resolution of the matter will be greatly appreciated.”
