BULAWAYO councillors have proposed “exorbitant fees” to
discourage burials in the city while incentivising cremations as the local
authority is running out of land.
The Bulawayo City Council has been advocating for
cremations to save land but this has not found many takers as it is alien to
African cultural values.
The council has even proposed double burials in the same
grave for relatives but residents have flatly rejected the proposal.
Last year the council closed down the city’s biggest
cemetery, West Park, after it ran out of burial space, forcing BCC to create an
extension at Athlone cemetery while still utilising Luveve cemetery.
In the latest council report, the city fathers expressed
concerns over the dwindling burial space in the city.
Ward 1’s Councillor Mlandu Ncube said the local authority
should make it expensive for residents to bury their relatives in the city to
save land.Already council has hiked rates by up to 700 percent in the
past five months,
“Burial costs in the city should be reviewed to discourage
burials in the city. This would save the fast running out space for burial.
More information should be given to residents regarding cremations,” said Cllr
Ncube.
Alderman Clayton Zana of Ward 19 concurred with Cllr Ncube
that more needs to be done to educate residents about the city’s fast running
out land.
He said council should conduct campaigns to educate
residents about the need to encourage cremations.
Ward 5 Cllr Felix Mhaka even proposed that council should
conduct free cremations to encourage usage of the facility. His suggestion was
however shot down by Ward 4 councillor Silas Chigora.
“The service has overhead costs which should be charged
accordingly. Only an incentive should be introduced. Residents should be
encouraged to consider cremation. This would save land. The current statistics
on cremation are very low,” said Cllr Chigora.
Ward 24’s Cllr Arnold Batirai said council should find
alternative land for burials as cremation was unAfrican while Cllr Donald
Mabutho of Ward 9 said the prevailing economic hardships make it difficult to
bury deceased relatives in rural areas.
Ward 12 Cllr Lilian Mlilo said: “It was not prudent for
council to increase burial fees. Grave service delivery should be affordable to
everyone.” Chronicle
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