THE family of Given Flint Matapure (3) are yet to collect his remains from Harare Central Hospital mortuary. DNA tests conducted in South Africa on skeletal remains found at the Exhibition Park in Harare last November have matched those of Given.
The boy's father, Mr Onward Matapure, yesterday said they will collect the remains after consulting family elders.
"We are hoping that by tomorrow (today) some of our elders and other relatives would have arrived here (in the city) to chart the way forward. As of now, we cannot do anything without them.
"We will only be able to collect the remains after everyone has arrived," he said.
He said one of his brothers will issue a statement to the media today.
Given went missing at the Exhibition Park in August last year during the Harare Agricultural Show.
The DNA results arrived in the country on Monday.
Detectives from the Criminal Investigations Department Law and Order Section yesterday said they were still investigating the case.
In November, a Zimbabwe Agricultural Show Society worker discovered skeletal remains while clearing a piece of land for farming inside the park.
Police took the remains for forensic examination to determine the cause of death and possible identity.
A belt, T-shirt, shoes and a pair of trousers found at the scene were identified as those Given was wearing on the day he was last seen.
Given's parents and the police have been searching for him since he disappeared.
The toddler went missing while attending the show with his sister Grace (15) and the family maid.
A Harare teenage maid also appeared in court in connection with the case.
She was arrested after she allegedly called Given's father claiming to know his son's whereabouts, but failed to explain where the boy was.
Pastor Royce Archibald Kasumba (30) was slapped with an effective three-year jail term after he swindled the Matapure family of US$2 000 on the pretext that he could locate the boy.
Since last year, many children have been reported missing in and around Harare.
- Herald
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