THE Bulawayo City Council (BCC) is set to rehabilitate roads leading to the Zimbabwe’s second largest city’s cemeteries following an outcry over the state of facilities at the burial grounds.
According to reports, Bulawayo councillors recently expressed concern over the deteriorating state of facilities at the Umvutcha Cemetery.
The councillors called on residents to consider cremation to avert commotion and overcrowding at burial sites.
The concerns were revealed in the Bulawayo City Council latest minutes which related to the inspection of funeral parlours and cemeteries.
Speaking during a full council meeting recently, councillor Adrian Moyo raised concern on the bad state of ablution facilities at Umvutcha Cemetery.
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According to the minutes, Moyo proposed that there should be an attendant to maintain the facilities.
“Umvutcha Cemetery's outside parking area need to be attended to as well as the road leading to the cemetery. Residents have challenges with the road,” read the minutes.
Indications were that on January 18, there was traffic congestion because of the poor state of the road at the cemetery.
The minutes indicated that some buses were parked in the middle of the road because the outside parking area was inaccessible.
Councillor Shepherd Sithole complained about poor grave production at the cemetery.
“The graves were being produced manually. The grave digger was not operational awaiting repairs which had taken a long time,” the minutes read. “Councillors should encourage residents to consider cremation for minor children below one year.”
Councillor Khalazani Ndlovu was concerned about the children's grave section at West Park Cemetery amid indications that it had a lot of unmarked graves.
Ndlovu wanted to know what council was doing about the issue as she expressed support for the cremation of children below the age of one.
“Residents should be engaged so that there is an understanding,” the minutes read.
Councillor Sikhululekile Moyo noted that residents are in support of the cremation of children below the age of one.
“In the past, all still-born babies were cremated at hospitals. A lot of burial space was saved. Community should embrace cremation as one of the human body disposal methods,” she said.
In response, health services director Edwin Mzingwane said all the concerns raised had been noted.
“Roads leading to all the city's cemeteries will be rehabilitated. The traffic going to the cemeteries at times was too much. Residents should consider reducing the numbers of people going to the cemetery for burial,” he said.
Mzingwane also called on communities to embrace private burials.
Indications were that council cemeteries had adequate staff to provide grave backfilling services.
The minutes noted that double interment was being encouraged for married couples.
“Maintenance of still-born babies' graves is a challenge. There are a lot of cultural beliefs in relation to a stillbirth. Some of these beliefs affected grave maintenance," the minutes read.
“A realisation had been made to consider cremation of still-born babies. Currently cremation services are being provided by private players.
“A request was made to private players to reduce the cremation fees of still-born babies. Council was working on the acquisition of a cremator.”
Council said the new policy stipulates that only headstones will be erected at new cemeteries.
“This was to allow for the easy movement of grass cutting machinery at the cemetery. Burial space is fast running out and residents should consider other human body disposal methods,” council said.