Harare — SAM MTUKUDZI and his friend Owen Chimhare, who were killed in a road accident on Monday morning, will be buried today at Warren Hills Cemetery at 2pm.

The two families decided to have one funeral so that the boys can be buried side-by-side.

A joint church service was conducted at a city funeral parlour yesterday.

"At 9am today there will be a church service at the Mtukudzi residence in Norton, but non-family members are expected to gather at Pakare Paye Arts Centre at 11am for body viewing and another church service.

"At 12:15pm the bodies will then leave for Warren Hills where they will be laid side-by-side," said Shepherd Mutamba, the Tuku Music and Pakare Paye Arts Centre spokesperson.

Sam and Owen died on the spot when the truck they were travelling in veered off the road and rammed into a bridge before nose-diving into a trench along the Harare-Bulawayo Road just before Kuwadzana Extension.

Yesterday afternoon, hordes of people from all walks of life thronged Nyaradzo Funeral Parlour for the body viewing which was followed by a church service.

Zimbabwe's A-listers in the entertainment industry as well as a galaxy of the who's who in business turned up to pay their last respects to the departed upcoming performers.

When the Mtukudzis arrived, people jostled to console them and literally stepped on each other's toes to do so.

Traffic along Herbert Chitepo Street came to a stand still.

Led by the grief-stricken Oliver "Tuku" Mtukudzi and his wife Daisy, the mourners braved the scorching sun and waited outside the parlour for their turn to view the bodies.

Tuku battled to hold back tears and those who know him as a man full of joie de vivre could see the strain the loss has had.

His three daughters Selmor, Samantha and Sandra broke down before Sam's casket.

One-by-one, Baba naMai Charamba, Prince Tendai, Suluman Chimbetu, Joyce Simeti, Power FM presenters Bridget Gavanga, Tendai Chakanyuka, Victor Chiraga of Pamuzinda, Jimmy Jimalo and Taka Mashonganyika of Holly's Hotel filed round the caskets.

Other notables present were Lengthens Football Club president Musa Gwasira, and Warriors and Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Tinashe Nengomasha among others.

At Chimhare's home in Warren Park 1, many people came to share their grief and sorrow with the family and friends.