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Shingai Dhliwayo

Bulawayo Bureau—
AIR ZIMBABWE public relations executive Ms Shingai Dhliwayo has been found dead in a bush in Botswana. Family members, in a series of Facebook posts last week, seemed to suggest that Dhliwayo, whose maiden name is Taruvinga, had been kidnapped. Police in Botswana reportedly found her body and sent it to an unnamed hospital where her parents identified it on Saturday.

Air Zimbabwe passenger and cargo general manager Mr Chris Kwenda yesterday confirmed Ms Dhliwayo’s death. “Details of her death are still very sketchy. I don’t even know the city where the body was found. What I can say is that she travelled to Botswana on personal business last Saturday soon after the Trade Fair intending to come back the following day and she never came back,” said Mr Kwenda.

He said Ms Dhliwayo’s parents started panicking on Monday but they thought since it was a holiday she had had decided to delay her return. “They got really worried on Wednesday when there was still no communication from her,” he said.

Mr Kwenda said Ms Dhliwayo’s husband and parents decided to travel to Botswana to look for her that is when police told them of a body at the mortuary. He declined to give details of the family saying they were still fragile and grief-stricken following the untimely death of their loved one.

Mr Kwenda said Ms Dhliwayo’s body was still awaiting repatriation. Her sister -Ms Shuvanayi Taruvinga – yesterday morning wrote on her Facebook page: “In the name of Jesus Christ. God we pray for Shingai Taruvinga ngaadzoswe kwatiri Baba (She must be brought to us Lord). It’s has been a week my sister tisingazivi kwauri asi Jehovah vanewe (not knowing where you are but God is with you). Please carry her home Lord. She cannot just go missing. May you bring her kidnappers to shame God.”

On May 3, when the family was still looking for her, Ms Taruvinga wrote: “We love u girl. God is looking out for u . . .”

On the same day her husband, Mr Totizirepi Dhliwayo, appealed for his wife to call him. “Love looking everywhere for you, please call,” he wrote. Unconfirmed reports say Ms Dhliwayo, who ran Shekinah Wedding Décor Unlimited – a catering business, had been invited for a business meeting in Botswana intending to return the following day.

“We hear that her body was found in a bush and she was probably murdered,” said sources. Ms Dhliwayo was last seen on duty at the Airzim stand at the Trade Fair.