The government’s decision to issue death certificates for victims of Cyclone Idai, who went missing in Manicaland in 2019, is a significant step that will bring closure to the families of the deceased. This decision follows a thorough legal process to declare the missing individuals dead. So far, at least 100 families have received the death certificates, providing them with the necessary documentation to move forward.
Attorney General Virginia Mabhiza, during her visit to Mutare on May 29, 2024, announced that the class action lawsuit has commenced, and some families in Chimanimani have already received death certificates for their relatives. A class action lawsuit allows one person or a small group to represent a larger group with shared injuries or experiences. As the Attorney-General, Mabhiza initiated this process to fulfill her constitutional obligation to protect public interest.
Following Cyclone Idai in March 2019, a legal process aimed to have the courts declare the 279 missing individuals as legally deceased, making the issuance of death certificates necessary. The issuance of these certificates brings closure to the relatives of the victims, allowing them to move on and relieving them of the hope of seeing their loved ones again. This also enables the children of the deceased to move forward, rather than holding onto the possibility of seeing their parents alive again.
Overall, this move by the government is seen as a compassionate and practical measure to help the affected families begin the healing process and rebuild their lives.
Positive Eye News
