Mathew Masinge
AT last, we can now show the photograph of the mad man who raped and impregnated a teenage Murehwa girl who died two weeks after giving birth to twins.
Tatenda Zhanje, who was arrested and questioned by police in Harare on Tuesday night, was somehow all smiles yesterday during Yeukai’s burial at Dandara Village in Murehwa.
Tatenda, who now claims to be 22, broke into tears during body viewing.
But, he was seen giggling in the company of his friends later.
He was not allowed at Yeukai Dandara’s gravesite, about a kilometre away from her family’s homestead.
Under the Shona culture, it is believed that if a man wishes to marry after the death of his wife, he should not go near her grave during burial.
When H-Metro arrived at the homestead, Tatenda could be seen in what was a jovial mood, especially when he was in the company of a few of his relatives, who attended the burial ceremony.
However, it was very clear that tension was high amid revelations that Tatenda’s family did not contribute towards the funeral and burial expenses.
H-Metro was also told that Tatenda never informed the Dandaras of Yeukai’s pregnancy, and only did so after her death.
Tatenda went into hiding with some of his relatives only to hand himself over to the police at Highlands Police Station on Tuesday evening.
Asked about his conduct, Tatenda said he wasn’t ready to comment.
Police have already started interviewing Tatenda but allowed him to attend Yeukai’s burial.
They ordered him to return on Monday for further questioning.