Approximately 300 mourners paid their final respects to one of the ritual murder convicts, Tshimomo Munyai (55), who was buried at Tshandama village, near Tshilamba, on Saturday.

Born Ntsundeni Edson Munyai in 1951, Tshimomo died two weeks ago after serving only two months of his 21 years effective jail sentence.

Although the mood was solemn, a group of villagers, who were not part of the service at home, were only seen waiting for the cartage at the gate of the Tshandama graveyard on Saturday morning.

As accused No 3 in the high profile case, Munyai was found guilty on two counts. On the murder of an unknown man at Mafukani, he was sentenced to 20 years and an additional one-year sentence for trading in the body parts of the unknown man. His sentences were running concurrently. The deceased was reported to be of poor health while the trial was taking place. The exact cause of his death was still not clear at the time of going to press. He was reportedly in and out of hospital since he received his sentence two months ago. His wife also died while he was in police custody, before his case was finalized.

Family representative Mviseni Nndwambi said the family has accepted what happened. He told the mourners: "We are only prepared to go on with life because we cannot reverse the whole situation." Tshimomo’s two widows and children could not hold back their tears as his coffin was lowered into the earth while Pastor Harrison Mudzweda of the Tshandama Baptist Church was conducting the sermon.