bloodrayne
12-06-2004, 09:09 AM
Hitch-Hikers Forced To Dig Up Grave In Harare
Harare - Twenty Zimbabweans, who hitched a lift on the back of a truck, found themselves forced to dig up a grave at gunpoint at a well-known Harare cemetary, the state-run Herald newspaper reported on Saturday.
The passengers were picked up by a truck supposedly on its way to Harare's satellite town of Chitungwiza, around 20km south of Harare, but instead made for Harare's Granville cemetary, the Herald reported, citing an unnamed Harare city council official.
When the truck stopped, three men jumped out of the cab and ordered the passengers off.
"The men ordered everyone off the vehicle at gunpoint and some men were ordered to carry shovels and picks that were in the vehicle," the council official said.
He said the passengers were force-marched to a grave, which they were ordered to dig up.
"They took turns to dig the grave until they reached the coffin - a casket - which they were told to carefully unearth," the official said.
He said the passengers were told to empty out the coffin and load it onto the truck. The 20 were then left stranded at the graveyard.
It was not clear when exactly when the incident happened.
In Zimbabwe there is believed to be a brisk trade in stolen coffins, which are expensive and highly sought after.
Harare - Twenty Zimbabweans, who hitched a lift on the back of a truck, found themselves forced to dig up a grave at gunpoint at a well-known Harare cemetary, the state-run Herald newspaper reported on Saturday.
The passengers were picked up by a truck supposedly on its way to Harare's satellite town of Chitungwiza, around 20km south of Harare, but instead made for Harare's Granville cemetary, the Herald reported, citing an unnamed Harare city council official.
When the truck stopped, three men jumped out of the cab and ordered the passengers off.
"The men ordered everyone off the vehicle at gunpoint and some men were ordered to carry shovels and picks that were in the vehicle," the council official said.
He said the passengers were force-marched to a grave, which they were ordered to dig up.
"They took turns to dig the grave until they reached the coffin - a casket - which they were told to carefully unearth," the official said.
He said the passengers were told to empty out the coffin and load it onto the truck. The 20 were then left stranded at the graveyard.
It was not clear when exactly when the incident happened.
In Zimbabwe there is believed to be a brisk trade in stolen coffins, which are expensive and highly sought after.