Police Warn Public Against Toy-toying With Dead Bodies In Public Places

The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has warned members of the public against carrying and parading bodies of relatives and friends in city centres and other public places, saying the practice endangers public safety.

In a statement on Tuesday, 21 July, national police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi said the law will take its course without fear or favour against anyone found violating or abusing dead bodies.

In recent years, a trend has emerged where friends and relatives parade coffins in public places as a way of honouring the deceased. This has been common among groups of vendors, kombi crews and touts, who carry coffins through busy ranks and markets to celebrate the life of a colleague.

In some cases, coffins have been seen hanging precariously on top of vehicles or being lifted and danced with, known locally as toy-toying, while traffic is disrupted and large crowds gather to watch.

Commissioner Nyathi said such conduct not only violates the dignity of the dead but also poses safety and public health risks, disrupts traffic and public order, and can cause distress to other members of the public.

Police have urged families and friends to mourn their loved ones in a dignified manner.

“The ZRP warns Zimbabweans against parading and toy-toying with bodies of late relatives or friends in CBDs and public places as a way of honouring or recognising their vending, touting or kombi antics during the late person’s lifetime,” said Nyathi.

“Some of the coffins will be paraded whilst hanging precariously on top of vehicles. This endangers public safety.

“The law will definitely take its course without fear or favour on anyone found to be violating or abusing dead bodies.”

In April 2026, four touts were arrested after staging a coffin parade from Chitungwiza to Highfield, Harare.

Police said the group carried the coffin of their colleague, 29-year-old Paswell Tichare, on top of a kombi from Zengeza 4 to Machipisa bus terminus for burial at Granville Cemetery – KuMbudzi.

According to police, the group blocked Main Street in Machipisa, sang in tribute to the deceased and engaged in reckless behaviour including dangerous driving stunts.

Officers intervened and took the body to Machipisa Police Station before arranging for it to be transported properly in a hearse.

Commissioner Nyathi confirmed that four individuals – Godwin Mazenge, Michael Zhuwawo (30), Anna Chere (27) and Tawanda Mafaranyika (27) – were arrested and charged with disorderly conduct. They later paid admission of guilt fines.

A similar case was recorded in May 2021, when a 29-year-old tout from Mabvuku, Wishes Mukungurutse, was arraigned for allegedly violently taking a coffin with Romeo Matavire’s corpse from a Nyaradzo Funeral Services vehicle and parading it on a Wish vehicle while skidding.