Sr Getrude Sundudza SJ, who died at Don Bosco in Masvingo last week and was buried on Wednesday at Driefontein in Gweru, succumbed to suffocation, the police have revealed.

The death of Sr Sunduza had left people with many questions since she was seen all jovial the night before her death, only for fellow nuns to discover her body in a partially burnt house the following day.

In written response to questions, the police in Masvingo said “A 45-YEAR-OLD Roman Catholic nun in Masvingo, Sr Gertrude Sunduza, allegedly suffocated when she fell asleep while warming herself on a heater in her bedroom.”

Acting Masvingo police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Nkululeko Nduna also said: “I can confirm receiving a report to the effect that a nun with the Roman Catholic Church and working at Shingairai Study Centre was found dead on Saturday morning with burns on her arms and face. Investigations are in progress to figure out the cause of the fire.”

According to a resident of Shingairai Study Centre where Sr Sunduza lived, Sr She fell asleep while warming herself on a heater.

A maid at the training centre said the nun’s lifeless body was only discovered in the morning beside her badly burnt bed. “Sister Sunduza’s body was found beside her bed by Sister in Charge, Judith Chakabveyo. The body was found with burns on the face and arms. The mattress was extremely burnt,” she said.

Sr Sunduza was particularly known for working with young people, especially the Young Christian Students of Zimbabwe (YCS).

National Coordinator for YSC, Mr Benson Makusha, said Sr Sunduza was instrumental in their work, starting way back in the early 90’s at Serima. “She was an educationist, and wherever she went, she would make sure they are YCS structures there.”