Collin Mukondomi, the human resources officer at Rusape General Hospital, was reportedly assaulted by mourners during a church service on Tuesday following a contentious eulogy he delivered for the late Martin Karachi, who passed away the previous Saturday.
Mukondomi’s speech allegedly criticized Karachi’s professional history and accused him of unlawfully taking medication from the hospital pharmacy to treat others. This angered the mourners and family members, leading them to drag Mukondomi out of St John’s United Methodist Church in Vengere, where he was physically attacked. Mukondomi quickly departed the scene after the incident.
Philip Kanengoni, the church’s laity leader, confirmed the event to The Manica Post but refrained from providing additional details.
A senior church member, speaking anonymously, noted that Mukondomi’s actions were deemed inappropriate. In many African cultures, speaking ill of the deceased is considered disrespectful. The church member explained:
“Mrs. Mushawa, who was designated to speak on behalf of Sekuru Karichi’s former colleagues, gave a heartfelt tribute, sharing their positive working relationship before his retirement. However, Mukondomi took the stage and made shocking comments about the late Sekuru Karichi.”
Mukondomi reportedly criticized Karichi, who had been referred to as “Dr.” despite being a nurse aide. He claimed this misrepresentation led to unauthorized access to hospital medication. He also spoke about having saved Karichi from dismissal, even demoting him to a general hand. Mukondomi highlighted his authority as a human resources officer.
The mourners reacted angrily, prompting the event’s director to intervene and remove the microphone from Mukondomi. Relatives of the deceased reportedly dragged him out of the church and physically assaulted him before he left the premises.
“We never expected such behavior from someone who had worked closely with him,” said one of the mourners. “It was completely inappropriate.”
Mukondomi later addressed the incident, explaining that he was invited to speak about the deceased’s work history. He stated that his intention was to provide an honest portrayal of their professional relationship. Mukondomi denied the assault, claiming he left the funeral peacefully and without incident.
However, he later reached out to The Manica Post to express regret for his remarks, acknowledging that his comments were inappropriate. He added that he intended to apologize to Karichi’s family once the situation calms down, saying:
“I sincerely apologize to everyone affected. I plan to speak with the family when the emotional tension has settled. My words were wrong, and I take full responsibility for them.”
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