Johnson Progress

A family is embroiled in a bitter dispute following the death of a 24-year-old pregnant woman at a shrine in Goromonzi last month, with the deceased’s grandmother accusing relatives and church elders of attempting to conceal the circumstances surrounding the tragedy.

 

Roseline Tamary Takawira died from what her grandmother alleges were pregnancy-related complications.

 

The young woman’s family belongs to an Apostolic sect, and her death has ignited deep divisions, prompting her grieving grandmother, Enita Moyo, to demand a formal investigation and justice.

 

The conflict, according to Moyo, has roots stretching back to Roseline’s childhood.

 

Describing a pattern of control, the grandmother explained that her granddaughter’s life was marked by early hardship.

 

She stated that at just 16 years old, Roseline was forced into a polygamous marriage sanctioned by church elders.

 

“My granddaughter was forced into marriage when she was still a child,” Moyo recounted in an interview.

 

“I took her away from that situation because I wanted her to have a future.”

 

Moyo detailed how she intervened to rescue the teenager, bringing her to Bulawayo to pursue an education.

 

She explained that Roseline flourished under her care, successfully completing her A-Levels with the promise of university on the horizon.

 

However, when a local university programme fell through, Moyo said her granddaughter was returned to her parents in Murehwa.

 

“They promised me they would support her education and give her a better life,” Moyo said.

 

“But things changed.”

 

According to the grandmother, Roseline soon found herself at odds with the family’s strict religious doctrines and was labeled a “black sheep” for resisting.

 

She alleges that this resistance led to the young woman being forced back into the same marriage she had previously escaped.

 

When Roseline later became pregnant, her health rapidly declined.

 

The grandmother alleges that Roseline began suffering from severe complications, including seizures and high blood pressure, but was denied access to formal medical care due to the sect’s beliefs.

 

Instead of seeking urgent medical attention, the family reportedly relied solely on prayers before taking her to a shrine in Goromonzi, where she ultimately died.

 

“She needed urgent medical attention but we were told the church does not allow hospital visits. They insisted on prayers,” Moyo claimed.

 

“We believe she was not given the medical care she needed. She was very ill but nothing was done, except prayers.”

 

The situation grew more alarming after her death, with Moyo alleging a complete takeover of the burial process by church leadership. She expressed anguish over being excluded from funeral arrangements and claims no post-mortem examination was conducted to officially determine the cause of death.

 

She further alleged that family elders made attempts to remove the foetus, describing it as a traumatic experience.

 

“We were not allowed to participate in her burial as a family. Everything was handled by the church leadership,” Moyo said.

 

“We were left in the dark about what really happened.”

 

Moyo added that the family is now even being denied access to Roseline’s grave, fueling suspicions of a cover-up.

 

“We are being denied the chance to visit her grave freely. It is like they are hiding something,” she said.

 

“All we want is justice. She deserved a proper life and dignity even in death.”

 

Efforts to obtain a comment from Roseline’s parents were met with hostility, and they declined to discuss the matter.

 

Meanwhile, the man identified as her husband, Elton Ghuveya, denied any marital connection to the deceased.

 

“I wasn’t married to her, that’s all lies,” Ghuveya said.

 

“I was not around during her death, so I don’t know anything about it. You can ask other relatives.”