Resurrected from the Grave: Tanzanian Man Declared Dead Stuns Family with New Year's Call!

In a jaw-dropping turn of events, the Katavi district in Tanzania finds itself gripped by tension after a man presumed dead and buried the previous year made a shocking phone call to his own family, extending New Year's greetings. Masanja Masengwa, aged 30, reportedly passed away, leading to a series of events that has left the community baffled.

The bizarre saga unfolded on December 26 when a call delivered the news of Masengwa's supposed demise. Shocked by the revelation, family members and a local councilor rushed to the scene to confirm the tragic event. Ditto Shilinde, the deceased's brother-in-law, received the initial call and recounted the perplexing situation, stating, “I informed my wife, and shortly after, the councilor arrived with the same news of his death. I called his wife to inquire, and she told me he had been absent for 2 to 3 months, and we had lost contact.”

Faced with conflicting information, the family proceeded to a hospital to verify the identity of Masengwa's body. Convinced of its identity, they proceeded to bury it. Shilinde explained, “The body was already decomposed and emitting a foul odor. When his brother slightly uncovered the head, he confirmed it was him. So, we placed the body in a coffin and brought it here for burial.”

The family and community members, believing the ordeal was over, concluded the mourning period after the burial. However, on January 1, Masengwa shocked everyone by calling his brother and wishing him a Happy New Year. His brother, astounded, declared that he had not died. Masengwa explained that he was in a location with no network coverage, and his phone had run out of battery.

With growing confusion and signs indicating that they buried the wrong body, the family reported the incident to the police. Upon finding Masengwa alive and well in town, the family and community grappled with the surreal nature of the situation. Questions about the accuracy of the initial identification and the circumstances surrounding Masengwa's reported death linger as authorities investigate this bewildering case.