By Staff Reporter

HARARE: Anglican bus disaster families were this week taken aback after police officers asked them to raise funding for DNA tests needed to identify relatives who perished in the tragedy.

Eight people were burnt beyond recognition when a bus they were traveling in caught fire in Makoni district, Manicaland province Sunday night. The death toll has since increased to nine.

ZimGazette.com has obtained audio recordings of police officers updating bereaved families on progress regarding identification of victims.

The officers indicated that samples had now been collected from relatives of the deceased, adding that these would be sent for DNA tests at the National University of Science and Technology (NUST) in Bulawayo.

The process would take about 14 days.

An officer can be heard advising family members to make contributions towards to cost of the tests.

Listen to the briefing below;

However, official sources advised families to ignore the “fraudulent” request, saying all costs would be borne by the government.

An official told ZimGazette.com that according to the “Civil Protection (department) it’s the duty of the government to ensure those DNA are done and Civil Protection is currently processing the required documents and payment for that exercise to be done.

“Family members should be advised not to do any payments. Munhu uyo anoda kubira vanhu mari (that individual is trying to defraud bereaved families).”

The tragedy occurred after a Passion Link coach caught fire while returning home Anglican pilgrims who had attended annual commemorations at the Bernard Mizeki shrine in Marondera.

Eight passengers were burnt beyond recognition while several others were injured and ferried to hospitals in Mutare and Rusape.

Government officials later revealed that the bus did not have a certificate of fitness and was not road worthy.

“From the facts we have gathered, this bus was not roadworthy and frequently experienced mechanical faults along the way,” said transport minister Felix Mhona.

“As Government, we are going to see how we will assist the bereaved families and the accident victims.”

LIST OF VICTIMS: