Dying Outside Zimbabwe Too Expensive for Most Families
A few days ago, two prominent graduates of the United States Student Achievers Program, Nancy Tinoza and Morlene Tariro Magoronga, died in separate incidents in USA.
WASHINGTON DC — Dying in the diaspora has become one of the serious challenges faced by Zimbabweans living in various countries like Britain, America, Australia, South Africa and others. Relatives, who face the predicament of a death in the family, are expected to fork out about 2,500 pounds in Britian, about $20,000 in USA and R25,000 in South Africa to repatriate the remains of their loves ones. In most cases, families fail to raise such huge sums of money resulting in them seeking donations from friends and relatives. The delayed repatriation of the remains of top artists like Fortune Muparutsa, Pretty Xaba, Nevernay “Muwengwa” Chinyanga of Studio 263, medical practitioner Ortillia Chireka and others, is a clear indication it is difficult for Zimbabweans in the diaspora to repatriate bodies of loved ones back home. A few days ago, two prominent graduates of the United States Student Achievers Program (USAP), Nancy Tinoza and Morlene Tariro Magoronga, died in separate incidents in USA. Now, the Zimbabwe community is looking for at least $40,000 to repatriate their bodies. Almost half of this amount has been raised. Another $20,000 is being sought for the repatriation of a body of a Zimbabwean woman who died in Atlanta, USA, a few days ago. Zimbabweans and well-wishers had raised $16,608 and 20,893 for Tinoza and Magoronga respectively for the repatriation of their bodies to the southern African nation last night. The money is being sought through a fundraising application www.youcaring.com. USAP co-ordinator, Rebecca Zeigler Mano, said Zimbabwe has lost two great people. For perspective, we reached Chiedza Mufunde, a USAP graduate living in USA, and Jeff Madzingo, director of Diaspora Funeral Cash Plan based in Britain. Mufunde said raising money to repatriate bodies of Zimbabweans is an uphill task.