via Memorial service for murdered Guruve family members held | The Zimbabwean 01.06.14 by Sofia Mapuranga

A memorial service for two members of a Guruve farming family, killed after an attack near their home earlier this month was held at Thorn Tree Lodge in Harare

Malcom Francis, 72 and his daughter Catherine, 35 were brutally beaten by unknown assailants while they were taking a walk near their farm.

The Francis family members died a few days later.

A family spokesperson who spoke on condition of anonymity expressed gratitude at the support given to the Francis family by the Guruve community, church, farmers and tobacco industry.

“The response and contributions that we have received from the community and sympathetic well wishers is overwhelming and we are assured that their medical bills are going to be settled,” said the family spokesperson.

“We are grateful for all the thorough effort that is being made by the police in trying to establish the murderers.”

The spokesperson however said the farming community was disturbed by the limited progress towards bringing the culprits to book considering that the same murderers struck two years ago and the culprits were never found.

“These type of incidents are becoming common in Mashonaland central and we are worried of who is going to be attacked next,” he said