Lovemore Meya
In a sign of resignation, the Municipality of Chitungwiza has admitted that it is slowly losing the war to control its new cemetry to land barons who are reportedly chasing away grave diggers.
The new cemetry is located in Nyatsime area following the decommissioning of the Unit L cemetry.
In a monthly report presented for adoption during the 499th Ordinary Council meeting yesterday by the Public Works Committee Chairperson, Councillor Gylord Chenjera, indicated that in June, only nine people were laid to rest at the new cemetry, raising concerns among councillors.
Proportional Representative Cllr, Betty Jaisoni inquired what could be the problem.
“In your report on page 7 Chairperson, you indicated that in June alone nine people who were burried at our cemetry. But considering the number of people who are dying in Chitungwiza, this is an indication that most of them are being burried at Zororo in Harare,” pointed Cllr Jasoni.
“What are we lacking as chitungwiza such that the bereaved families are opting for other cemetries and not the one in their locality. I think we need to attend to it as we losing a lot of revenue.”
Ward 24 Cllr, Obert Matsika also raised concerns as to why Council was failing to reign in on the landbarons.
“Last time our employees were chased away by land barons as they were digging graves. I wanted to find out if you had taken any action? Those people who are living in the cemetry land are landbarons and are not stopping at anything. What have we done as Council?
“Town Clerk, you are well aware of this issue, and last time police was deployed there after the landbarons had demacated the cemetry. If the situation continues unabated, where we will be burried after we die? Are we involved or we sold that piece of land to them so that we cannot remove them?” He asked.
In reponse, the Public Works Committee Chairperson, Cllr Chenjera stated that the situation was unbearable.
“I want to state it clearly for Cllr Jasoni to have a better understanding. Many people in Chitungwiza are of the view that burying their relatives at our cemetry is akin to dumbing their beloved ones in comparison to Zororo where a grave is constructed from the bottom upwards.
“Those bereaved families of no means are the ones using our cemetry after getting assistance from these Councillors. Some of the contributing factors are that, they consider paying $96 for a cheaper grave in Chitungwiza since they cannot afford a $540 one. Number two, our road to the cemetry is in a sorry state and lastly where you claim we have a cemetry, it is no longer there. It has been turned into residential stands.”
In a spine-chilling account, Cllr Chenjera highlighted that tomb stones were even stolen, stating that the situation now requires high authority.
“Removing those illegal settlers is out of our bounce. I still recall that the resident Minister (Charles Tawengwa) indicated that he is going to visit and address this issue. Let us leave this matter in the hands of the town clerk and the Resident Minister to do their work. We should not debate it any further.”
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