Prosecutor demands DEATH SENTENCE for former President Joseph Kabila plus 35 years for war…

📅 Published: August 26, 2025

Curated by AllZimNews.com

However, beneath the surface of public mourning, a complex narrative of their relationship has emerged, raising questions about Bunjira’s commitment and respect for Brenda’s family.

While many media outlets have mistakenly referred to Brenda as Bunjira’s wife, sources close to the Zvinorova family have revealed that the couple, who started dating in 2021, had been living together for nearly half a decade without Bunjira ever formally introducing himself to her relatives.

This revelation has cast a shadow over Bunjira’s public expressions of grief and ignited a debate about cultural norms and expectations.

According to sources, just a week before Brenda’s untimely death, one of her brothers had strongly advised her to formalise their union by formally introducing Bunjira to the Zvinorova family.

Brenda reportedly preferred an informal introduction at a gathering or event, but her brothers insisted on a traditional visit to their home in Marondera.

Brenda is said to have explained that their busy schedule throughout August made it difficult to arrange such a visit, revealing that she and Bunjira had trips to Kariba, Honde Valley, and South Africa throughout the weekends of August.

She suggested that formal introductions could be arranged in September or later.

Tragically, this was the last discussion Brenda had with her brothers regarding her relationship with Bunjira.

Sources have refuted claims that there were plans to pay lobola (bride price) at the end of this year, arguing that in the four years they lived together in Brenda’s Westgate house, Bunjira never bothered to formally meet the Zvinorovas.

It is further alleged that he had not even gone to an aunt (tete), as is customary in African tradition when one intends to marry someone. “Brenda’s family was not happy with the way she was living with Bunjira.

The Zvinorova family felt that Brenda was putting her relationship with Bunjira first, at the expense of her three young children,” said a source who worked with Brenda at the World Food Programme (WFP), where she was a programme assistant. “They were never married, many people thought they were husband and wife, because of the time they lived together, but the truth is that ‘vanga vachingobika mapoto havo’ [they were just living together].

A few months ago, Bunjira’s sister passed away and Brenda told his brothers to pass their condolences to Bunjira, but the brothers refused, saying as far as the African culture is concerned, they don’t know Bunjira because he was never introduced to them, so there was no traditional basis for conveying their condolences to someone whom they have not been introduced to. ”
Adding to the complexity of the situation, Bunjira did not attend Brenda’s burial.

A source from Marondera who attended the funeral explained that when the accident took place, Brenda was rushed to Rusape general hospital before being transferred to Harare.

One of Brenda’s brothers visited her in the hospital in Rusape, and that is when Bunjira attempted to initiate formal talks with him.

However, the brother, understandably upset, refused to engage with Bunjira. “The brother flatly instructed Bunjira not to come anywhere near him, and Bunjira complied.