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Byo re-opens West Park cemetery

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BULAWAYO City Council (BCC) has re-opened West Park Cemetery and seized land reserved for offices for funeral parlours to create new burial space for an additional 7 000 graves.

BULAWAYO City Council (BCC) has re-opened West Park Cemetery and seized land reserved for offices for funeral parlours to create new burial space for an additional 7 000 graves.

By NQOBANI NDLOVU

The local authority recently approached the government asking for additional burial space after most of its cemeteries filled up.

“The acting director of health services reported that the director of engineering services (town planning) had indicated that the piece of land had been reserved for use by funeral parlours, offices and related infrastructure close to West Park Cemetery,” council minutes read.

“However, the idea was never taken up and the cemetery had since filled up. It had now been decided that the said piece of land be utilised as additional burial ground.”

West Park Cemetery was shut-down a few years ago after running out of burial space, but latest council minutes indicate that the local authority has re-opened it, targeting land reserved for offices and funeral parlours.

The council’s general purposes committee said the seized land can accommodate about 7 000 graves, and is likely to fill up in two years, giving the local authority some relief.

“A survey had indicated that the space could accommodate about 7 000 graves,” the minutes continue.

“At the current rate of around 300 burials per month, the space might take up to 24 months to fill up. It must be noted that all cemetery infrastructure is already in place (offices, ablution facilities, water, etc.) Clearing of the area had already started.

“The reopening of West Park Cemetery would, therefore, give council some respite, and limit over reliance on Luveve Cemetery, particularly for eastern areas.”

The government has gazetted land near Pumula South high-density suburb and also near Marvel Township along Harare Road for new cemeteries.

Council has been encouraging people to cremate their beloved ones to save burial space, but the option has found few takers.

In a bid to find more burial space, councillors are also negotiating with land owners for more land to establish new private graveyards.