Chikomo Chemhute Cemetery was supposed to have sought and
obtained approvals from the ministries of Local Government, National Housing
and Public Works as stipulated by sections 35 and 14 of the Cemeteries Act, and
the Cremation Act, respectively according to a local law firm.
“The land is reserved for agricultural purposes, it is
within the catchment area of Mazowe Dam, and it is less than 200 meters from
residential areas, among other things. Our instructions are to request that the
commission (Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission) investigates the actions of
Cadrina Investments and its officers, and bring them to book. Our clients and
the writer are available for any assistance and/or clarifications that you may
require,” lawyers from Mhishi Nkomo Legal Practice, representing Fopuld Investments
Private Limited, said in a letter to the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission.
Fungai Mparadzi, the chairman of Cadrina Investments
Private Limited, referred all questions on the matter to Marowa Meleki, the
head of service provision at Glen Forest Memorial Park.
Meleki said Chikomo Chemhute was part of the Glen Forest
Memorial Park, where families were allowed to choose places where they want
their relatives to be buried.
“Glen Forest is an independent company that operates a
cemetery and a crematorium. Glen Forest operates legally and has approval from
Goromonzi Rural District Council and all appropriate line ministries. Glen
Forest has Environment Management Agency (EMA) approval to operate a cemetery
and a crematorium. It buries everybody in lined graves, and this was a
condition given by EMA in its approval,” Meleki said.
He, however, did not give clarity on allegations that
Chikomo Chemhute was a separate entity under Fopuld Investments, and whether
the cemetery needed the Local Government Minister’s approval.
Fopuld Investments (Pvt) Ltd is said to hold 49% shares in
Cadrina Investments (Pvt) Ltd, which also owns Chikomo Chemhute.
Chikomo Chemhute is an entity registered for purposes of
holding the asset on which the Glen Forest Memorial Park is.
It is alleged that Fopuld Investments later discovered that
the cemetery and crematorium at Glen Forest were unlawful, as they did not
seek, or had not obtained approvals from government.
The Mhishi Nkomo lawyers allege that Mparadzi hid the
existence of Chikomo Chemhute from Fopuld Investments, adding that the entity
had never appeared on the books of Cadrina Investments.
However, grave purchases are said to be directed into
Cadrina Investment’s bank account.
“Upon being quizzed over the sale of burial sights on
Chikomo Chemhute, Mparadzi denied any such enterprises. Cadrina Investments
Private Limited, due to the fraudulent misrepresentations by Mparadzi, sold and
continues to sell burial sites to government departments, parastatals and
private citizens on a piece of land which is not, and can never be approved for
a cemetery,” the lawyers wrote.
The matter came to light after one of Cadrina Investment
directors, Joseph Crnkovic, who represents 100 overseas investors, discovered
the offence.
He said he was forced to flee the country after raising
alarm.
Crnkovic denied that Chikomo Chemhute and Glen Forest
shared one licence. He claimed that Chikomo Chemhute owned subdivision 24 of
Whelston, a farm in Glen Forest measuring 40,4670 hectares.
“Audited financial statements of Cadrina Investments
Private Limited show that it was Cadrina that was in business of developing and
selling graves, and so I never had access to the Matidoda accounts until I
asked them, and was removed from the country,” Crnkovic said.
Mhishi Nkomo Lawyers have also written to local service
provides on behalf of Crnkovic, asking them to stop buying graves at Chikomo
Chemhute.
Zacc spokesperson John Makamure said: “I am yet to see the
complaint, but if they reported the matter, they did the right thing and it
will be investigated thoroughly.” Newsday
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