THANDEKA shed tears when she narrated how her mother was bundled into a truck on June 16 only to return home lifeless.
The death of Rumbidzai Tachiona (40) of Kent Farm, in Hurungwe Rural District Council’s ward 1 under Chief Chundu, has left the community stunned and grappling for answers over the tragedy.
The deceased, a mother of four bubbling girls aged 21, 16, 12 and four, died in a suspicious manner.
The community feels everything is not adding up and the matter was being swept under the carpet by authorities.
It is an untold story of deceit and NewsDay Weekender recently travelled to the area to unearth what really transpired.
Thandeka recounted the last moments with her mother that turned from loving smiles of affection into deep horror that will haunt her forever.
The late Tachiona had plans for her daughters, nurturing them like any caring mother would.
But all that was erased within a short space of time, which calls for justice from the authorities including police, health personnel and the Madziva family, who, according to the deceased’s family, were owed US$420 by late Tachiona.
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Thandeka recalled how her mother left in the company of her four-year-old sister.
“She was picked up by a Harare-based agro dealer Svinurai Madziva accompanied by a Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) officer identified as Edison Madiro based at Lynx Mine Police Post,” Thandeka told NewsDay Weekender.
Tachiona never thought it was the last time she would ever see or talk to her children.
The deceased was Madziva’s agent for farming equipment, specialising in tobacco kurt machines that the agro-dealer sold to local farmers in Hurungwe district.
Tachiona covered Chiuwa and Vuti farming areas.
Thandeka recalled what she overheard.
“Tavinga mari yedu uye ukasatipa ndiro zuva rako rekupedzisira (We are here for our money. If you fail to refund us, today is your last day),” Thandeka recalled.
True to their words and anticipation whether by design or fate, Tachiona came back in a coffin three days later for burial at the Tachiona homestead in Omega Village.
“My mom was bundled into the blue lorry driven by Madziva. I know him and his wife,” Thandeka added.
“They used to come to the farm regularly. She was at the back of the lorry with the (police) officer.
“That was the last time she spoke to me.”
Family spokesperson Wilfred Tachiona (35) picked up the narration, saying the family was deeply hurt and were seeking answers about her demise.
“I got a phone call from Madziva around midday on Monday June 16. He wanted his money from my late sister.
“I asked him to come over so that we could pay what we had and make payment plans on her behalf,” he recalled.
“Madziva said he had an officer with him and wanted my sister to refund him the money.”
As fate has it, Madziva later called again.
“He later indicated that my sister had some breathing challenges and I told them to go to Karoi Hospital hoping that she could be attended to by healthcare officials,” Wilfred said.
“At around 3pm, he called me notifying us about her death.
“They dumped her body at the hospital and that was the last time we communicated. He switched off his mobile phone.
“My elder brother, Cuthbert, who is based in Karoi, went to the mortuary to confirm if, indeed, she was dead and he got the shock of his life.”
For three days, the family could not get answers and only managed to sketch her death around suspected neglect.
“Our sister was never admitted to the hospital officially. We are deeply concerned and hurt.
“It was from the lorry into the mortuary,” Wilfred said, battling to control the boiling anger.
For him, the journey to seeking answers has been tedious.
He has been to Makuti, Karoi Rural and Urban police stations to check on the progress of the matter.
“We waited for three days seeking official communication from the police or Madziva who last spoke with me, but nothing came out,” he said.
“We only managed to bury her after Chief Chundu gave a directive, but no official confirmation has come up to now.
“What puzzled us is that some of her belongings, including shoes, stockings and jersey are missing.
“No one can tell us how we will get these.”
The Tachiona family said despite efforts to get finer details on how she died, they have hit a brick wall.
“We got the postmortem result indicating that she drank poison and that there were no visible external injuries,” Wilfred said.
“Our worry is Rumbidzai was not a weak person at all. She died a painful death. From the body viewing, we noticed she had some injuries on her forehead.
“Her neck had some bruises, her eyes were swollen. It raises more questions than answers. We want full investigations into the death and to know why the postmortem results were cooked up.”
The postmortem result, signed by one Dr Mberi, revealed that Rumbidzai died from poisoning.
“History of drinking organic phosphate. No external injuries,” the post-mortem, signed by Mberi on June 17, 2025, read.
Thandeka disputed the medical report.
“My mother was under malaria medication. She was left with three tablets when she was picked up,” she said.
The deceased’s husband Edmore Sibindi (49) was not happy either.
“I met the officer Edison Madiro at Karoi Police Station during the funeral days and he never bothered to explain it to me how my wife died,” he said.
“Madziva never bothered to communicate with me either. We are still waiting for him to come over so that we can pay him the money owed.
“His explanation will help both families to get peaceful solutions for our children. If my wife owed him some money, we need answers about her death.
“Madziva’s continued silence is worrying. Something sinister happened to my wife.”
NewsDay Weekender established that the puzzling case has been placed under Karoi Urban senior officer, one Sergeant Muregererwi under CRB 6287046.
“The delays in giving us updates raises suspicion on how the matter was being handled from the beginning,” Sibindi said.
Madziva confirmed that he went to Tachiona’s homestead and left with her.
“Of course, we had an officer from Lynx Mine Post. She drank poison along the way to Karoi,” he said via phone last Friday.
“The case was reported to the police. I will communicate with the family through police and get my money when her estate is due after all formalities. She owed me US$500.”
Ironically, Thandeka and her uncle maintain that Tachiona owed the agro dealer US$420.
Madziva has been in the business since 2010.
Both also denied that she had such poison at home.
“There was no foul smell during the funeral to suggest that Rumbidzai died from any pesticide. We demand answers to the whole saga,” Wilfred said.
Mashonaland West provincial spokesperson Inspector Ian Kohwera said he needed time to get facts concerning the case.
As police details take their time to conclude investigations, the Tachiona family remain in a pool of confusion.
