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The late Bazara Bayana’s two wives — Gertrude and Eva

Sifundiso Ndlovu Chronicle Reporter
THE skeletal remains of a Bulawayo man who went missing four years ago have been found in a cave by tourists visiting the Matopos National Park.The group rushed to inform police of their grisly find last week.

The police used the man’s cellphone that was found at the spot where the remains were located to trace his relatives.

What could have happened to the man remains a mystery but police are investigating the matter.

His family told Chronicle yesterday that Bazara Bayana, 67, who is a father of 11, went missing on December 20, 2010.

On January, 24, 2011 Chronicle published an appeal the family made to help locate him.

Yesterday, Bayana’s two wives – Gertrude and Eva — said their husband was last seen at Retreat Shopping Centre along Matopos Road four years ago.

Gertrude narrated her shock and grief when on Friday last week, police called her asking if she knew a cell number that later turned out to be her late husband’s.

“I could not believe it. I thought someone was playing a cruel joke on me because my husband had been missing for four years,” she said.
“I then demanded the name of the caller and told him that my husband has been missing for more than four years. That’s when he told me that he was a policeman and wanted us to come and identify a body that had been found in a cave”.

An emotional Gertrude said the discovery of her husband’s body evoked mixed feelings in her.

“I prayed everyday that we at least get something that would give us closure. So even though I’m mourning my husband, I am relieved and happy that the Almighty has answered my prayers,” she said.

His second wife Eva said police were investigating circumstances surrounding his death.

“We are not yet clear as to what exactly transpired. Police are still doing their work,” she said.

Eva said they were making preparations to bury the remains.

“He was a good husband and father. He never smoked or drank beer and was always thinking about providing for his family,” she said.
Other family members said they positively identified Bayana’s clothes at the United Bulawayo Hospitals on Wednesday and were making arrangements to bury him.

“We identified the jacket and shoes. I did not see  the cellphone but I understand the police used the sim card to dial the last dialled numbers,” said one of Bayana’s sisters.

Matabeleland South Police spokesperson Philisani Ndebele could not be reached for comment.

In May this year, an Entumbane man reportedly went missing and his decomposing body was found floating in Mazayi River a month later.