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Freeman Razemba and Felex Share
GOVERNMENT has approached a private forensic laboratory to have DNA profiling done on 17 unidentified bodies from the Chisumbanje ethanol tanker explosion. Health and Child Care Minister Dr David Parirenyatwa yesterday said he would meet representatives from the laboratory today. “We have a private DNA forensic outfit in the country and they are going to assist us on this particular case,” he said.

“I will be engaging them tomorrow and we hope that they will assist us to identify the bodies,” Dr Parirenyatwa said.
National police spokesperson Chief Superintendent Paul Nyathi said the DNA tests would be conducted by a team of local medical experts.

“I can confirm that the DNA tests would be conducted by a team of medical experts in the country,” he said.
African Institute of Biomedical Science Technology (AiBST) founder Professor Collen Masimirembwa is leading the experts.

Chipinge District Administrator Mr Edgar Seenza yesterday said relatives had been asked to go back to their homes and would be advised about the developments today.
The remains of the victims were still at Chipinge District Hospital.

Last Friday, relatives of the 17 asked Government for mass burial after they disagreed on the identities of the bodies.
They changed tack over the weekend in the wake of our story on Saturday proposing DNA profiling.

The 25th body belonged to Clifford Muyambo who died on Monday and was being transported to his village for burial when a Mazda T35 truck ferrying mourners collided head-on with the tanker, resulting in the inferno.

Muyambo’s body was also burnt in the fire.
Mr Seenza said the other eight bodies had been identified and had been collected for burial.

He said families of the unidentified bodies had approached him demanding that the mass burial be carried out immediately since they were finding it difficult to identify their relatives.

He said there was a need for police clearance before the mass burial could be carried out.
The accident occurred last Wednesday morning near Checheche Growth Point at the 206km-peg along the Tanganda-Chiredzi highway.

Bodies that were identified were those of Darikai Muyambo, Blessing Nokutenda Magwagwa, Tracy Mtetwa, Beulah Mashapa, Charles Chandengerwa, Nyasha Nafelani, Winnie Muyambo, Prosper Chandengerwa, Ngarwo Jakopo, Venencia Dzapasi, Viola Dzapasi and Kudzai Chandengerwa.

Green Fuel provided US$250 for each funeral which would be given to the next of kin of each deceased person and this came after the Government gave each bereaved family US$200.

Police Forensic Science examiners from Harare went to Chipinge to prepare for forensic tests in case they are ordered.
Acting Manicaland Police Traffic Co-ordinator Chief Inspector Cyprian Mukahanana had earlier said the carrying out of the DNA profiling was expected following disagreements among the relatives.

The profiling would help identify the horribly burnt victims, but Zimbabwe does not have a Government forensic laboratory equipped with the relevant even though the technological breakthrough was made in the mid-1980s.

DNA testing or genetic finger printing is a technique employed by forensic scientists to assist in the identification of individuals by their DNA profiles.
Samples for such tests are taken to South Africa where they are conducted.