The already troubled community of Penrose Farm is reeling from a fresh wave of distress after Leengate Construction Company, in collaboration with Kuriya Funeral Service led by Daniso Paradza, exhumed graves without the consent of bereaved families.
The exhumations, part of a proposed school construction project, have exacerbated the trauma of residents forcibly evicted from their homes earlier this year without compensation.
The community cemetery, a place of profound personal significance, was disturbed without prior notice or permission from the families of the deceased.
“I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw my mother’s grave desecrated,” said Margaret Kanyatunga, a former Penrose Farm resident. “We were forcefully ejected from our homes without any recompense, and now they’ve gone as far as disturbing the final resting places of our loved ones. This is a complete disregard for our humanity and traditions.”
According to affected families, the companies claim to have announced the exhumation process in the press. However, the families deny receiving this information.
“Honestly speaking, they did not inform us officially,” said Linda Rusengano Janga, a former Penrose Farm resident. “I only discovered the exhumations through another former resident. When I contacted the Leengate engineer, he referred me to Daniso Paradza. Paradza claimed the announcement was in the press. I explained that due to our financial constraints, we couldn’t afford newspapers. He responded by saying they were unaware of our situation.”
The former residents allege that the companies plan to relocate the graves to Murombedzi. Despite initial promises to compensate those wishing to move the graves within a 35-kilometer radius and cover traditional reburial costs, these promises remain unfulfilled.
“They are saying that they are relocating the graves to Murombedzi,” said Holiday Simon. “They had promised to sponsor us if we wanted to reinter the remains in locations of our choice within 35 kilometers. They also assured us that they would cover the costs of the traditional processes before reburial, but they have not kept their promises.”
The exhumations have sparked widespread outrage, with many questioning how such actions could proceed without proper consultation. In Zimbabwean culture, exhuming graves is a highly sensitive matter requiring the approval of relatives and adherence to traditional rituals.
“The authorities need to take this matter seriously and ensure justice is served,” said Lasbon Gundai Harare, another former Penrose Farm resident. “This is not just about construction; it is about respect for our dead and the rights of their living relatives. We should be compensated for the entire reburial process.”
Leengate Construction Company has remained silent on the matter, despite attempts to contact them. Daniso Paradza also refused to comment, becoming confrontational when approached.
The affected families are demanding the proper reburial of the exhumed remains, compensation, and a public apology from Leengate Construction Company for both the evictions and grave disturbances.
The incident has highlighted the broader issue of respecting cultural practices and individual rights in development projects. The resolution of this matter will likely set a precedent for future handling of such sensitive issues.
