“Two Years in Limbo: Mother’s Grief Deepens as Pathologist Blocks Daughter’s Burial”

By Tafadzwa Nyamuzihwa in Hannover, Germany | Wednesday, 9 July 2025

HANNOVER, Germany – After nearly two agonising years of waiting, hope has turned into heartbreak for Nomsa—known widely as Mai Princess—whose long, painful search for closure has been derailed by what appears to be a grave miscarriage of justice and troubling professional misconduct by a senior pathologist at Parirenyatwa Hospital in Harare.

Since December 2023, Nomsa has endured emotional trauma and bureaucratic obstruction at the hands of Dr. Jabangwe, the pathologist at the centre of a deepening scandal.

In a harrowing story of delays, miscommunication, and what many now believe to be deliberate obstruction, the grieving mother has been denied the right to bury her daughter, Princess Shoko, whose remains have been kept in a mortuary for over two years.

It all began with the pathologist’s initial refusal to release the body without a DNA test—a decision that, while at first understandable, quickly spiralled into a nightmare.

Nomsa was told the results would be ready within six weeks. But that promise was shattered when she was informed the original blood samples had dried up, requiring a second round of collection in December 2023.

What followed was a series of delays that dragged on until June 2025, only for the final results to show the DNA tested belonged to a male.

“This is a disgrace,” Nomsa cried. “My daughter, Princess, was a girl. How do they mix up samples like this? Why are they playing with my pain?”

Our investigation has uncovered even more disturbing details: the results were available as early as 2024, but Dr. Jabangwe withheld them, without explanation to the family.

This revelation has triggered public outrage and growing calls for an independent inquiry.

Despite pressure from the family’s lawyer and grieving relatives, Dr. Jabangwe has continued to refuse the release of Princess Shoko’s remains.

Lawyer Mr. L. Rwizi drafted an affidavit, signed by all relevant offices, to facilitate the release. But in a shocking twist, Dr. Jabangwe reportedly demanded an added clause stating that if the DNA results prove Nomsa is not the biological mother, she would be liable for the cost of exhumation.

The burning question now being asked across Zimbabwe is: Why has Dr. Jabangwe assumed the DNA results will be negative?

And why this unrelenting resistance to releasing the child’s remains?

Sources close to the investigation suspect the pathologist may have undue influence over the process and are calling for his immediate removal to ensure transparency.

“This is no longer just about incompetence—it smells of something much deeper, possibly corruption or a cover-up,” one investigator told us.

Nomsa’s pain resonates deeply with many following this tragic saga.

“We cannot run a medical system where even the dead are denied dignity because of corruption or negligence,” one of our investigative journalists remarked.

“We’ve protected this pathologist for too long. It’s time he’s held accountable.”

The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) is now being urged to step in and launch a thorough probe into the matter.

Civil society groups are also pushing for disciplinary action against Dr. Jabangwe and for the case to be handed over to an independent pathologist.

Nomsa’s long fight for closure continues—but the silence from those in power remains deafening.

This is a developing story. Our investigative team will continue to bring you updates as more information comes to light.