A BLACK market for graves at popular and sought-after Mtapa
Cemetery in Gweru is fast becoming enterprising business as graves are now
being sold for as much as $300 when council prices are $11,50 and $23 for
children and adults respectively.
While Mtapa Cemetery was decommissioned in 2008 with 16 185
bodies having been buried there, town clerk Ms Elizabeth Gwatipedza said there
were 1 600 graves that had been bought in advance which were still vacant.
She said it had come to her understanding that some of the
people or relatives who had rights to the 1 600 graves were allegedly selling
them to willing people for $300. With the decommissioning of Mtapa Cemetery,
Gweru now has Mkoba 9 Cemetery popularly known as Mupunzarima and Mutasa
Cemetery. Ms Gwatipedza said the alleged black market was beyond council since
the graves in question were purchased way back.
“That one is beyond us as council. These people purchased
the graves long back and said they are for their relatives. They pay rentals
yearly. Some of their relatives were buried in rural areas but now they keep
the graves to make money. They do it secretly so it’s difficult for us to know
what will be happening. There are about 1 600 graves that are reserved at Mtapa
Cemetery,” she said.
Ms Gwatipedza said the cost of a grave at council
cemeteries is $11,50 for children and $23 for adults.
“We double prices over the weekend and public holidays.
Total number of bodies buried in Mtapa Cemetery is 16 185 since March 1897 and
it was decommissioned in 2008,” she said.
Even when it was decommissioned Mtapa Cemetery remains the
favourite of many bereaved families with the bereaved in Mkoba coming to bury
their dead there shunning Mkoba 9 Cemetery. Sunday News
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