THE Bulawayo City Council (BCC) has banned the erection of
tombstones at the Athlone West Cemetery and other new cemeteries.
The local authority has said only headstones must be
erected on graves. In a statement, Town Clerk Mr Christopher Dube said the erection
of headstones will promote effective maintenance of the cemeteries in line with
the Cemeteries Act.
“The City of Bulawayo would like to advise members of the
public, Grave Monumentalists and Funeral Service Providers that in terms of the
Cemeteries Act, the Bulawayo (Cemeteries) Regulations, 1967 and a Council
resolution of Wednesday March 7, 2018 that only headstones shall be erected on
graves at Athlone West cemetery and other new cemeteries. The erection of
headstones will facilitate easy and effective maintenance of the cemeteries,”
he said.
Mr Dube said among
other procedures, the deceased’s family or relatives wishing to erect a
headstone must first submit the details of the deceased to be confirmed by the
cemetery supervisor who monitors the whole process.
“Deceased’s family
or relatives approach the cemetery where the deceased person is buried with the
details of the deceased person. The cemetery supervisor checks the records to
confirm the information. The Supervisor may visit the grave yard to check
physically after confirming or checking the cemetery records. The cemetery
supervisor assists the applicants in completing the Tombstone Application form
and fills in the Pro-Forma invoice, giving additional information and advice on
the erection of the tombstone. Applicant takes the Pro-Forma invoice to the
revenue Hall for payment where a receipt is issued and taken to the 1st Floor,
Tower Block for authorisation,” he said
“On the day of putting up the grave monument, the family or
the Grave Monumentalists presents the Tombstone Application Form with the
attached receipt to the cemetery supervisor to verify payment and enter into
the Tombstone Permits Register. The Cemetery Supervisor will lead the family or
the tombstone Monumentalists to the grave yard to erect the monument and such
work must be carried out to the satisfaction of the cemetery supervisor. The
Dimensions of the monument is 1,2 metres x 2,2 metres. The length of the
headstone must not exceed 1 metre.” Chronicle
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