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Warren Hills reserved for Zanu PF burials

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Warren Hills cemetery in Harare has been closed for public burials with the remaining 7,2 hectares reserved for Zanu PF provincial heroes

Warren Hills cemetery in Harare has been closed for public burials with the remaining 7,2 hectares reserved for Zanu PF provincial heroes.

MOSES MATENGA

warren hills

Harare’s education, health, housing and community services committee confirmed the latest developments, which were approved during a special council meeting yesterday. It said Warren Hills will now only be reserved for the provincial heroes, a situation likely to create a crisis of burial space in the city.

“The committee resolved to recommend that council notes the closure of Warren Hills cemetery and reserves the remaining serviced land for Harare province heroes’ cemetery uses,” the committee said.

Council also resolved to have a precast wall erected along the Bulawayo road side of Warren Hills cemetery.

The move is likely to draw the ire of residents and opposition political parties who feel it was an extension of Zanu PF influence on burial space, as the party has also declared the National Heroes Acre was a Zanu PF “hill”.

Only Zanu PF supporters have been declared provincial heroes and buried at the Warren Hills cemetery over the years.

According to a report by the acting director of housing and community development, Warren Hills cemetery had 7,2 hectares of serviced land remaining for immediate burials.

“The provincial heroes cemetery authorities wanted the remaining 7,2 hectares for the expansion of the provincial heroes cemetery and construction of memorials.

“Council had initially donated two hectares for the expansion of the provincial heroes cemetery. Warren Hills cemetery does not have any other land for immediate burials,” the committee noted.

The land available, the committee noted, was on the hillside of the cemetery and expensive to service and develop, therefore, not immediately available for burial.

Council said frantic efforts were being made to provide land for cemetery use in the eastern, southern, northern areas of the city.

“It further noted that council would continue to use Granville cemeteries (Mbudzi) and Mabvuku cemetery, while new sites were being explored,” the committee agreed.

Harare has limited burial space, with Warren Hills, Mbudzi and Mabvuku being the popular ones for ordinary residents.

Of the nine cemeteries in Harare, only four are still operational while five are closed among them Greendale, Pioneer, Highfield, Mbare and Dzivarasekwa.

Meanwhile, Harare yesterday adopted a housing policy that will co-ordinate developmental projects.