Nchindo cremated:its finish and Klaar

GIDEON NKALA
Staff Writer | Wednesday February 17, 2010 00:00

 

 The Nchindo family spokesperson and lawyer, Parks Tafa confirmed to Mmegi that the cremation was done in a private ceremony attended by less than 20 people.

He said the ceremony was done in accordance with the wishes of the family. In attendance was Nchindo's mother, wife, children, grandchildren, brother- in-law.

The few friends who were there include Satar Dada, Daniel Kwelagobe, Ishmael Nshakashogwe, Duncan Mlazie, former Debswana deputy managing director Leonard Makwinja and his wife, Tlhageng Kewakae, Tafa and his legal partner at Collins Newman law firm Lawrence Khupe. After several attempts to get information from the family, Mmegi was finally directed to Tafa 

Mmegi: Is this the end. Will Nchindo's ashes be buried in a cemetery?

Tafa: No,there will be no funeral. To use our Setswana equivalent this was the funeral. If family members want to keep some ashes or spray them, that can always be delivered to them at a later stage but there will be no other funeral as this was the burial.

Mmegi: Before they cremated the body, did the Nchindo family bring in an independent forensic expert to determine the cause of death?

Tafa: Not that I know of.

Mmegi: What caused Nchindo's death? Is it suicide or homicide?

Tafa: The family or the police will be in a better position to answer that.

Mmegi: It will appear that the family is satisfied that this was suicide and they saw no reason to bring a forensic expert and that is why they cremated without even seeking an independent opinion. Or they wanted closure as they could not deal with the huge public pressure. What is the correct position?

Tafa: What I know is that Nchindo's son, Garvas was at the scene when the body was found and that when the family received the body they decided that they would cremate. Why don't you come to the memorial service tomorrow (today) where Garvas will speak maybe he will have answers to some of your questions.

This is not the end that many have been looking forward to since Nchindo died. Many were bracing themselves for a dramatic aftermath but it would appear the cremation almost puts closure to all the nagging questions and conspiracy theories. Or is it?

The police however say the disposal of the body cannot stop their investigations as they do not need the body at this stage to make a determination of the cause of death. Botswana police spokesperson, Dipheko Motube said they will determine the cause of death in due cause. He said the forensic team was done with the corpse and thus passed it to the family.

Experts say any investigation regarding both identity and cause of death is better done on the body. This is because after cremation any investigation requires much more advanced technologies.

Indeed if the Nchindo family wanted an independent forensic investigation to be conducted, they would have been advised to do so before cremating the body. Does the cremation of the body therefore, in some reverse logic, indicate the family's satisfaction with the government investigation? The family will today hold a memorial service for Nchindo at the Anglican Cathedral at 10am in Gaborone.